861.24/1744a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Iran (Ford)
113. There follows a paraphase of a message being sent General Connolly by War Department.
Begin paraphrase. War Department is aware, with reference to your radio February 23,41 that as result of the change in your directive you may receive large number of requests you cannot meet. Legation at Tehran is being instructed by State Department to screen such requests as are made through it with view to elimination of those which are not urgent or reasonable. State Department is also requesting Legation to advise the civilian missions in Iran of change in your directive. No reasons exist therefore for withholding such information from Schwarzkopf or Ridley. On contrary cases of requests for assistance in which Iranian aid could be used should be referred to General Ridley in order to determine whether the task can be accomplished in whole or in part by the Iranian Gendarmerie or Army. War Department does not wish to have American forces perform any tasks which can be done by Iranian civilians or Army. In case the work cannot be done by these agencies it remains of course [Page 320] within your discretion as to whether you will undertake it or not. War Department recognizes that the most efficient way to meet any request is for you to assign American troops to execute it. This procedure however would not be in keeping with the principle of helping the Iranians to help themselves nor would it develop Iranian abilities. The military and gendarmerie missions above mentioned are in Iran with the primary objective of establishing American goodwill, which is a consideration secondary to your operations. Actions you take which reflect credit on those missions will achieve American objective in Iran. The above information is being sent by the State Department to the Legation at Tehran for distribution to the civilian missions. You should deliver a paraphrase to Schwarzkopf and Ridley. End paraphrase.
Please bring foregoing to attention of various civilian missions to Iran and offer to General Connolly your full cooperation in the implementation of this new directive. Please endeavor to screen requests made to you by Iranian Government or advisers with view to eliminating those which are not urgent or reasonable.
- Not printed; General Connolly had stated, in part, “It has been my attitude heretofore to be rather hard-boiled and the publication of my new instructions will bring innumerable requests for assistance which I must carefully screen. I desire to conform strictly to the policy expressed in the new directive and I shall possibly have to refuse a number of requisitions which may cause hard feelings.” (861.24/1744a)↩