891.105A/7–2644: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Iran (Ford)

446. Department would be reluctant under present circumstances to recommend a police adviser to replace the deceased Timmerman. It [Page 422] will naturally, however, consider any Iranian request on basis of merits of case as presented and in light of conditions then prevailing. Department has in mind the unsatisfactory conditions under which Timmerman, Millspaugh, Ridley and Schwarzkopf Missions have worked and possibility of withdrawal of one or more of the three remaining missions.

Before recommending a police adviser for Iran Department would in any case desire to receive from the Iranian Government convincing assurances that he would be accorded the fullest cooperation and encouragement in his work. It would seem desirable also to have a mission of several experts since Timmerman’s experience showed that the reorganization of the vast and inefficient municipal police departments was too great a task for one individual. Difficulties of finding these would be great and some delay might occur. Department would have no objection to Schwarzkopf assuming responsibility for the municipal police if requested by the Iranian Government and approved by the War Department.

You may bring foregoing to attention of British Chargé with the suggestion that pending clarification of the present confused situation with regard to the other advisers a formal Iranian request for a police adviser might be difficult for the Department to handle.

Hull