Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

891.77/743

Memorandum by the Secretary of War (Stimson) to the Secretary of State ⁵⁵

Washington, 20 May 1944.

The War Department has received a message from the Commanding General, Persian Gulf Command, which expands on State Department Message No. 350 of 19 May 44 from Teheran. General Connolly believes that the proposed railroad agreement would endanger harmonious relations between U.S. and Russia in the Persian Corridor, and that as dilatory action would probably be resorted to by the Russians, nothing could actually be accomplished by pushing the agreement. It appears from the above two messages that both Mr. Ford and General Connolly are in agreement as to the undesirability of forcing an agreement.

The above message introduced nothing to change the War Department view from that portrayed in a letter from the Secretary of War to the Secretary of State dated 8 April 1944⁵⁶ when it was stated that “the War Department does not see any reason to enter into the proposed agreement”.

For the Secretary of War:

H. R. Maddux

Colonel, G.S.C.

55. For the attention of Wallace Murray, Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs.
56. Not printed.