811.203/369
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the
Secretary of State
No. 755
Tehran, December 11,
1943.
[Received December 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose copies of an
exchange of correspondence between the Legation, the Iranian Foreign
Office, and the Commanding General of American Forces in Iran, regarding
the pending question of Jurisdiction in criminal cases involving
American troops in Iran.74 As indicated in this correspondence, the Legation
has informed the Foreign Office, at the request of General Connolly,
that it considers its Note No. 341, dated January 18, 1943, which was
presented on instructions contained in the Department’s telegram No.
[Page 487]
20 of January 11, 1943, 11
p.m., and to which no reply was ever received, as having been withdrawn
from further consideration.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Commanding General, Persian Gulf Service
Command (Connolly) to the Minister
in Iran (Dreyfus)
Tehran, December 6,
1943.
My Dear Mr. Minister: Receipt is
acknowledged this date of Note Number 341, dated January 18, 1943,
addressed to His Excellency, Mohammed Saed, Imperial Minister of
Foreign Affairs, together with an attached memorandum which states
that the Note has not been answered in writing and that the Iranian
authorities have stated orally that they are not prepared to sign an
agreement of jurisdiction in criminal cases until after the general
agreement on presence of American troops has been concluded.
An examination of the Note discloses that certain changes would be
desirable. It is further believed that it would be much more
practical if the matter of criminal jurisdiction could be worked out
jointly with the other Allied Forces in Iran so that there would be
uniformity on the question of criminal jurisdiction among all the
Allied Forces.
In view of the above and inasmuch as the Iranian Minister of Foreign
Affairs has not replied to this Note in which event it would have
placed the same on record as an understanding between our Government
and the Iranian Government, it is respectfully requested that
immediate action be taken to temporarily withdraw Note Number
341.
Very truly yours,
