You are requested to take this matter up with the appropriate Iranian
authorities with a view to determining whether their Government is
prepared to conclude an agreement of this type.
You will note that in the final paragraph of the draft agreement it is
stated: “Signed and sealed in duplicate, in the English and Iranian
languages, …”. It is understood that alternat
copies of the agreement would be prepared. The form is explained at
large in Foreign Service Regulations, Chapter XI, section 2.
Copies of the enclosed draft agreement are being furnished for their
information to the Iranian Minister and the British and Soviet Embassies
at Washington and to the American Embassies at London and Kuibyshev.
In the event that the agreement is signed, you should transmit to the
Department the original signed alternat for the
United States of America.
[Enclosure]
Draft39
Whereas, the present war has threatened
the welfare of Iran and there is danger of aggression against
Iranian territory by unfriendly powers; and
Whereas, on January 29, 1942 the Imperial
Iranian Government concluded with the Governments of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics a Treaty of Alliance; and
Whereas, the President of the United
States of America has taken note of the said treaty; and
Whereas, the United States of America is
associated with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the
prosecution of the war with a view to the removal of the existing
dangers to the integrity, sovereignty and well-being of all
peace-loving nations throughout the world; and
Whereas, both the Government of the United
States of America and the Imperial Iranian Government have declared
their adherence to the principles of the Joint Declaration made on
August 14, 1941 by the President of the United States of America and
the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, known as the Atlantic Charter;40 and
Whereas, it is recognized by the Imperial
Iranian Government that the success of the United States of America
and its associates in the present war represents the only means
whereby the objectives of the Atlantic Charter may be realized and
the dangers threatening Iran removed,
The undersigned, Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr., Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at Tehran,
[Page 460]
and Mohammed Saed,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, representing their respective
Governments, have agreed as follows:
The Minister of Iran suggested inclusion of a specific statement
pledging the respecting of Iranian integrity. This became the basis
of article I.
The War Department recommended a widening of the terms of reference
for describing American civilians who were in Iran for specific War
Department purposes, and for defining their rights and privileges.
This procedure was adopted and applied to articles II, III, IV, VI,
and VII.
Article I
The United States of America undertakes to respect, in the future as
in the past, the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political
independence of Iran.
Article II
Units and individual members of the Armed Forces of the United States
of America, the agencies which it finds necessary to employ in its
operations, and the civilians employed by the United States of
America or by such agencies, together with all the supplies and
equipment necessary for their operations, may freely enter, operate,
pass through or be maintained in Iran whenever and wherever entry,
operation, passage or maintenance may be necessary to the
prosecution of the war. It is understood that the presence of such
forces, agencies, and employees does not constitute a military
occupation and will disturb as little as possible the administration
and security forces of Iran, the economic life of the country, the
normal movements of the population and the application of Iranian
laws and regulations.
Article III
All materials, equipment, supplies, goods, personal belongings and
other like articles brought or imported by the American Armed Forces
or by the agencies or employees aforesaid, whether owned by the
Government of the United States of America or by such agencies or
employees or destined for their use (including consignments to an
American post exchange or commissary), shall be free from any tax,
duty or port, customs or other charge levied by the Imperial Iranian
Government or by any subordinate governmental authority. The
Government of the United States of America may establish, maintain
and operate postal facilities, commissary stores and post exchanges
for the use of the said Armed Forces and agencies and employees.
Article IV
In any areas where units of the American Armed Forces or the agencies
or employees aforesaid may be located in pursuance of the terms of
this agreement, the appropriate American authorities may take all
necessary measures to improve sanitation and in other ways to
protect the health of the personnel. In carrying out such measures,
the American authorities will receive the full collaboration of the
Imperial Iranian Government and local Iranian authorities, and they
may exercise all powers which the appropriate Iranian authorities
[Page 461]
would possess in
connection with the execution and enforcement of sanitary and health
regulations, including the right to enter upon private property. If
the rights of private property owners are adversely affected by any
action taken under the provisions of this Article, the Government of
the United States of America undertakes to make just compensation to
the owners in question.
Article V
The Imperial Iranian Government, upon request, will grant to the
United States of America the right to use, maintain, guard and
control, in part or in their entirety, any of the means of
communication within Iran, including railways, roads, rivers,
aerodromes, ports, pipe lines, and telephone, telegraph and radio
installations, whenever such use, maintenance, protection and
control may be found advantageous for the prosecution of the
war.
The Imperial Iranian Government further agrees to cooperate with the
American Armed Forces in the institution and operation of such
measures of censorship control as may be found desirable for the
means of communication which may be used, maintained, guarded or
controlled by those forces.
In the application of the provisions of this article, the American
Armed Forces will give full consideration to the essential needs of
the Imperial Iranian Government and people.
Article VI
Any property imported into Iran for the use of the Armed Forces of
the United States of America, or the agencies or employees
aforesaid, may be reexported from Iran whenever such reexport may be
desirable in the interest of the United States of America, and such
reexport shall be free of any tax, duty or port, customs or other
charge levied by the Imperial Iranian Government or by any
subordinate governmental authority.
If it should be found impracticable or undesirable to remove any
installations which may have been or may be constructed in Iran by
or at the expense of the United States of America or its agencies,
the disposition and use of such installations after the present war
shall be governed by an agreement or agreements to which both the
Government of the United States of America and the Imperial Iranian
Government shall be parties. Such agreement or agreements will make
appropriate provision for the future ownership and operation of the
installation or installations and for any payments or other benefits
to be received by the United States of America. The governing
purpose of such agreement or agreements shall be to carry out in
practice, in whatever way may then appear to be the most effective,
[Page 462]
the principles of the
Joint Declaration of August 14, 1941, known as the Atlantic Charter,
and in particular point Fourth thereof relating to the enjoyment by
all States of access on equal terms to the trade and to the raw
materials of the world. Such agreement or agreements shall be
concluded within a reasonable time after the cessation of
hostilities between the United States of America and its enemies in
the present war, if not at an earlier date.
Article VII
If necessary, a separate agreement or separate agreements will be
concluded to settle any subsidiary questions which may arise in
consequence of the presence of American Armed Forces or civilian
personnel in Iranian territory.
Article VIII
Any action under the present agreement which affects privileges
granted or obligations incurred under the Treaty of Alliance between
Iran, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, signed at Tehran on January
29, 1942, will be undertaken only after consultation and agreement
with the appropriate Iranian, British and Soviet authorities.
Article IX
Unless previously terminated by mutual agreement, the present
agreement shall remain in force until six months after the cessation
of hostilities between the United States of America and its enemies
in the present war, or until the conclusion of peace between them,
whichever date is the earlier. However, Article VI of the present
agreement shall remain in force until its terms shall have been
entirely fulfilled, without regard to the foregoing provisions.
Article X
This agreement shall go into effect on the date of signature. It will
be submitted immediately for the approval of the Majlis and for
ratification in accordance with the requirements of the fundamental
law of Iran.
Signed and sealed in duplicate, in the English and Iranian languages,
this . . . . . day of . . . . . , 1943.
For the Government of the United States of America:
For the
Imperial Iranian Government:
