891.00/12–2745: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 29—2:29 a.m.]
1185. Both Prime and Foreign Ministers have asked my opinion of their making direct personal appeal to Stalin in effort to solve present crises. Their approach was informal and off the record [Page 515] and I replied in same manner to the effect that it was my personal opinion that contacts between men often succeed where note writing between governments fails. I added that since note writing in the present crisis had brought no results, such a personal appeal could do no harm and in any event would add to Iranian case by having it on record. They appeared to be in agreement and it is probable that some sort of personal appeal will be forthcoming. Foreign Minister informed me he would also ask opinion of British Embassy.
Repeated Moscow 368, London 148.