Office of the Historian

811.24591/10–1645

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson) to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)

[Washington,] October 16, 1945.

We learned recently, with considerable surprise, that the War Department intended to send 2,200 new American troops to Iran as replacements for high-point men being withdrawn. We were aware that if it should become known that we were sending in these new troops, in spite of President Truman’s announcement at Potsdam that [Page 425] all American troops would be out of Iran by October 1, accusations of bad faith would be levied against us and the withdrawal plans of other foreign troops might be halted. We pointed out these considerations to officials of the War Department.

I have just been informed by General Barker, Deputy Chief, OPD,33 that while the 2,200 troops will embark during the next few days, the War Department is today sending a telegram to Iran asking whether the duties intended for these new troops (guarding installations and dismantling of property) might be performed by private contractors and by the local Gendarmerie.

We think that it would be a mistake to send these new troops to Iran, in view of the President’s undertaking at Potsdam, and of the unfortunate effect which their arrival might have. I hope that the reply to the War Department’s telegram will be satisfactory and that these troops may be diverted en route. The War Department states that they can be used in Germany, Egypt and elsewhere. In view of the Potsdam commitment, you may consider it desirable to bring the matter to the Secretary’s attention.34

Loy W. Henderson
  1. Brig. Gen. J. DeF. Barker, Deputy Chief (Air) of the Theater (Operations) Group in the Operations Division, War Department.↩
  2. Marginal notation by Mr. Acheson: “Let’s await reply to the cable.”↩