891.00/11–2845

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

The [appointed] Iranian Ambassador urgently requested an appointment with you this morning to discuss the situation in his country. [Page 462] I felt confident that he had nothing particularly new to report and consequently took the liberty of telling him that you were fully occupied this morning and suggested that he come to see me.

He left with me the attached communication78 addressed to you, expressing his full appreciation for the note which we sent to the Soviet Government and reiterating reports of Soviet obstruction.

The Ambassador was highly alarmed by present reports that the rebels are advancing on Teheran. He pointed out that the Soviet authorities have leased a large number of important buildings and houses in Teheran during the past three years and still retain possession of them, despite Soviet claims of having evacuated Teheran. The Ambassador feels confident that these houses are serving as depots for arms and ammunition, and that the Soviets have prepared a well-organized fifth column movement inside the city, to be supplied with arms at the proper moment from these Soviet depots. He is afraid that the capital may be lost to the rebels and the Shah, high Government officials, and members of the Parliament are in great physical danger. The Ambassador thinks that most energetic measures are necessary, and wondered whether it might be possible for American forces in Iran to make some kind of demonstration in Teheran in support of the central Government, “somewhat similar to the support you are giving the central Government in China”.

We told the Ambassador that while we would of course bring his views to the attention of the appropriate authorities, we felt it necessary to point out immediately that any movement of American forces toward Teheran would be directly contrary to the sense of our proposals to Russia and Great Britain for the withdrawal of all foreign troops. I pointed out that since we have no combat troops in Iran any demonstration by service forces might appear ridiculous. I expressed sympathy for the difficulties of the Iranian Government and said that the most effective action it could take, in my view, would be to take every step to maintain its authority within the capital.

L[oy] W. H[enderson]
  1. Infra.