Office of the Historian

811.24591/9–2145: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Iran (Murray)

Washington, September 21, 1945—8 p.m.

550. On September 9 the Secretary telegraphed General Marshall,15 reminding him that in July at Potsdam President Truman had stated American troops would be evacuated from Iran within 60 days of that date.16 Unless good reasons were advanced by Marshall for modification of that schedule, the Secretary stated he would adhere to above statement during London conference.

Marshall replied September 1117 as follows: at Potsdam President Truman understood necessity for not undertaking precipitous overall withdrawal, and recognized need for protection of U.S. interests and property in Iran. The President approved retention at Tehran of minimum security and maintenance personnel and ANLC, and indicated that it was not intended that ATC personnel or Ridley or Schwarzkopf missions be withdrawn from Iran at present time.18 However, he desires evacuation of American forces from Iran to be effected without unnecessary delay. Marshall stated that total U.S. strength in Tehran October 1 will be 650 (including Ridley and Schwarzkopf missions19). U.S. strength throughout Iran (including Tehran) will total 4,800 on November 1. This total will be reduced as soon as surplus disposal and ATC traffic to India and Burma permit.

Acheson
  1. In Delsec 8 to General of the Army George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, not printed; message sent by the Secretary while aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Delsec was the code designation for telegrams sent by the Secretary’s delegation at the London meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.↩
  2. For summary of the President’s statement on July 23, 1945, see Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 309. For further information on this subject, see paragraph numbered 5 in the memorandum of July 25, 1945, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs, and telegram 554, July 28, 1945, from Tehran, ibid., pp. 1393 and 1395, respectively.↩
  3. War Department telegram 62524 to London, not printed.↩
  4. See telegram Victory 391, July 28, from Babelsberg, Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. ii, p. 1396.↩
  5. General Marshall’s telegram gave the strength of these missions as 27 and 24 persons, respectively.↩