740.00119 Potsdam/7–2545
No. 1379
The Deputy Director of the Office of
Near Eastern and African Affairs (Allen) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Dunn)1
Memorandum for Mr. Dunn
Subject: Possible Items Concerning the Near East and Africa Which Might be Included in the Press Communiqué at the End of the Conference
The following items from my area might possibly be suitable for inclusion in the press communiqué:
- 1.
- Tangier. It was agreed by the representatives of the three states that the Zone of Tangier, which includes the City of Tangier and the area adjacent to it, should, owing to its specific strategic importance, remain international. They further agreed that representatives of the U. S., U. K., U. S. S. R. and France should be sent to Paris in the near future to consider an appropriate status of this international zone.
- 2.
- Trusteeship. It was agreed by the representatives of the three states present that the question of the disposal of the former colonies of Italy in Africa and the Mediterranean was a matter for settlement when the peace treaty with Italy is drawn up.
- 3.
- Syria and Lebanon. The representatives of the three states present heard a report by the British Delegation of recent events in Syria and Lebanon and a declaration by the British Delegation of a lack of any desire to seek advantages for Great Britain in the area. The American Delegation expressed itself as a supporter of the full independence of Syria and Lebanon and as opposed to special privileges by any power in that area.
- 4.
- Iran. The representatives of the three states present agreed that Allied troops should be withdrawn immediately from the City of Tehran.
Comments.
I am aware that it is questionable whether some of the items suggested above, particularly those concerning trusteeship and Syria and Lebanon, should be published. I merely include them in case it is desired to publish anything on these subjects.
I hope that the agreement to withdraw Allied troops from Tehran may be made somewhat more specific and that the announcement can include agreement to withdraw from “Tehran and its vicinity.” Little would be accomplished, as far as meeting Iranian wishes and improving morale there, if Allied troops merely withdraw from the city limits and remain in force on the outskirts. I would welcome a specific statement that the withdrawal would include an area of 25 or even 50 miles from the capital if the Russian Delegates can be brought to concur. It seems to me that the principle of Marshal Stalin’s suggestions of withdrawal from the capital could be construed to include a real withdrawal and not merely a technical one.
- Printed from a carbon copy on which there is an uncertified typed signature.↩