811.24591/11½: Telegram

The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State

642. Department’s 279, June 8, 9 p.m. I delivered both American and Iranian texts of proposed agreement to General Connolly on June 10 and on June 18 requested him to expedite reply. He replied on June 19 that the concessions to be made by United States are so far reaching that careful study must be made before he is in position to comment. I have obtained clear impression from officers attached to PGSC53 that General Connolly is satisfied with present informal status of his command vis-à-vis the Iranians and is therefore not particularly anxious to proceed with negotiation of this agreement. I suggest, unless General Connolly offers suggestions or comments in near future, that negotiation on agreement be no longer delayed.

I have advised Foreign Minister54 informally that if Iranian Government wishes the kind of guarantee suggested in article V of its draft (see paragraph 7 of my 476, May 8) it is at liberty to adhere to United Nations Declaration. He replied that he did not believe there would be serious objection to elimination of this article.

Dreyfus
  1. Persian Gulf Service Command.
  2. Mohammad Saed.