691.0024/7–945
Memorandum by the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs to the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs 66
Subject: Russian Access to the Persian Gulf
Mr. Richard Sanger (NE)67 has informed ME of a conversation which he had with Mr. Houghteling, former Immigration Commissioner68 and a personal friend of the late President Roosevelt.
Shortly before the President’s death, he discussed with Mr. Houghteling the problems of the Middle East, with special reference to Russia. Mr. Roosevelt informed him that the subject had been raised at the Tehran Conference, and that Mr. Roosevelt had proposed to Marshal Stalin at that time the establishment of an Iranian free port on the Persian Gulf, at Bandar Shapur. Mr. Roosevelt stated that Marshal [Page 526] Stalin expressed interest in this proposal, and asked Mr. Roosevelt if it was a serious suggestion. When Mr. Roosevelt stated that it was so intended, Stalin excused himself and conferred briefly with Foreign Commissar Molotov. Upon his return, Stalin stated that he was agreeable to this proposal.
ME note: The general substance of this conversation was reported to the Department by President Roosevelt.69 However, Mr. Roosevelt stated that the proposal also included a plan for an international trusteeship over the Trans-Iranian Railway. Mr. Roosevelt informed the Department that Marshal Stalin merely commented that the proposal was an interesting idea, and offered no objection. The version given by Mr. Houghteling, however, would suggest that some kind of understanding was reached.
- Drafted by Mary E. Crane of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs (ME).↩
- Richard H. Sanger of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs.↩
- James L. Houghteling had been Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization from July 1937 to July 1940.↩
- In a memorandum of December 8, 1944, to the Secretary of State, Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, p. 483; see also memorandum of December 19, 1944, by Mr. Murray to the Secretary of State, ibid., p. 485.↩