891.248/11–2144: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Iran ( Morris )
698. Urtels 861, November 21, 10 a.m. and 723, September 30, 5 p.m. Please inform the Iranian and British authorities and the AIOC that the American Government’s only interest in the question of the ownership of the land on which the Abadan airfield is located is to assure that American aircraft are accorded no less favorable treatment than that which may be accorded any other foreign planes, including British, as regards postwar use of the field. If these assurances are given by the Iranian and British authorities and by the oil company, the American Government will have no further interest in the question of the proposed sale of the land.
The foregoing is naturally without prejudice to the eventual settlement of questions related to the American funds and effort which have gone into the development of the field, or to existing arrangements for the continued use of the field by the American military authorities.