811.24591/9–1545

Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Miss Mary E. Crane of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs

Col. Connelly2 telephoned this morning to discuss the question of the continued presence of Air Transport Command troops in Tehran.

He stated that the War Department had originally regarded their continued presence as desirable as a means of securing our post-war [Page 410] civil air rights. However, the War Department now considers that the acquisition of such rights will be determined by broad political considerations. He stated that, unless the State Department objected, the War Department would consider the ATC troops in Tehran solely from the point of view of military considerations, and they would probably be withdrawn within a few weeks.

I said that, while I could not speak officially for Mr. Henderson, I thought it most probable that he would approve of the War Department’s attitude, since he regards the evacuation of Tehran as highly desirable.

Col. Connelly said he understood that the British plan to leave 70–80 liquidation personnel in Tehran after September 15.

Mr. Henderson subsequently stated that the Department concurred in desiring the withdrawal of ATC troops from Tehran, and that, in principle, withdrawal of American forces should be governed only by military considerations and not by political or aviation considerations.3 I have conveyed Mr. Henderson’s statement to Col. Connelly.

  1. Lt. Col. S. W. Connelly, of the Operations Division, War Department.
  2. In telegram 811, October 8, 1945, 11 a.m., the Ambassador in Iran reported that the Air Transport Command was discontinuing operations into Tehran “as of today”. (811.79600/10–845)