740.0011 European War 1939/30401: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 28—1:37 p.m.]
779. My 694, July 5. Prime Minister has asked me to urge Department to make early and favorable reply to subject of Iran’s adherence to United Nations Declarations. He expressed regret that Iran had not been able to enter the war before the fall of Mussolini83 since Iranians desire to avoid giving impression that they have deliberately waited until defeat of Axis seemed assured beyond question. The delay in taking this step he again stated has been caused by necessity of preparing public opinion which had naturally been extremely hostile to British and Russians because of invasion of Iran. He added that the procedure of requesting statement from Allied Government before declaring war was resorted to only because a favorable statement from the American Government would be invaluable in assisting government to obtain Majlis approval.
- Benito Mussolini, Italian chief of government; for correspondence on the surrender of Italy, see vol. ii, pp. 314 ff.↩