891.248/11–2144: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4 p.m.]
861. Embassy is informing Foreign Office of Department’s general attitude toward American airport rights, as set forth in Department’s [Page 494] airgram A–94, October 27.9 I should appreciate advice of any further developments in this regard which may have resulted from Aviation Conference at Chicago.
Although Department’s approach to British should be helpful in resolving larger problems, it does not furnish much guidance for Embassy in dealing with immediate question of AIOC request for more land at Abadan. I should appreciate specific instructions (as requested my telegram 723, September 30) either to interpose definite objection or to allow Iranian Government to decide matter in normal course without intervention on our part. Present situation with American official of Iranian Government blocking action merely because of Embassy’s informal oral expression of interest seems to me improper and likely to produce doubts regarding impartiality of advisors and our own good faith.