891.51A/9–1244
The Ambassador in Iran (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a self-explanatory letter34 which has been addressed to the Iranian Minister of Finance [Page 428] by Dr. A. C. Millspaugh, Administrator General of Finances. It will be noted that Dr. Millspaugh proposes to dismiss the Director of the Bank Melli Iran, Mr. A. H. Ebtehaj. Although dated August 29, the letter was not delivered until September 7, and I have not yet learned the reaction of the Minister to this proposal.
As the Department may judge from the letter, there has been no slackening in the tension between Dr. Millspaugh and Mr. Ebtehaj since the return of the latter from the Bretton Woods conference, and the existence of the feud between the two men is public knowledge in Tehran. This new move by Millspaugh may well provoke an explosion, since Ebtehaj will almost certainly fight violently against dismissal. He has strong influence with the Prime Minister and in official circles, and it seems Millspaugh is taking a grave risk in forcing the issue. However, it is believed Ebtehaj is not popular with the Majlis, which may leave the Doctor with the strongest hand, especially if the new Minister of Finance, who is sympathetic, is willing to back him up.
Respectfully yours,
First Secretary
- Not printed.↩