891.51A/11–2045: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21—8:12 a.m.]
966. Dept’s telegram 627, Nov 14. On Nov 18, I informed Minister Finance Hajir of Dept’s views regarding termination of contracts of financial mission members at same time sending formal note to FonOff and informing American group.42 I stressed to Hajir desirability of making clean break especially since any men who remain will be in strictly advisory capacity with no administrative authority or responsibility. He appeared to agree and said he would anticipate no difficulty in obtaining passage by Majlis of law authorizing new contracts. He remarked that number to be retained would probably be only four or five.
Present status is that Minister is to ascertain which members of mission are willing to discuss new contract on advisory basis after which he will select those he wishes to retain and endeavor to reach agreement with them as to terms of contract. Unless there are unforeseen developments I do not intend to intervene in these negotiations and will leave it to individuals concerned to work out contracts which will safeguard their interests. In communicating Dept views to advisers [Page 563] I made it plain that any who wished to stay would have to negotiate with Iran Govt as individuals rather than as mission recognized by American Govt and could count on no help from Embassy in their future work other than such protection of their contractual and personal rights as would be accorded any American abroad.
During our conversation Nov 18 Hajir said he wished to keep small group of advisers partly as link with American Govt which he said would be political asset for Iran Govt. He also expressed view this would dispose American Govt favorably toward his desire to have outstanding American economist make survey of Iran economic situation. I hastened to emphasize again that he must not expect to keep advisers here as mere window dressing but must make full use of their abilities. He assured me he would utilize them to fullest extent but I am dubious of his sincerity in this.
[In a memorandum of conversation with Mr. Pixley at the American Embassy at Tehran, dated December 13, 1945,43 the Chief of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs (Minor) wrote: “Mr. Pixley said that the contracts had been terminated in the cases of 25 members of the mission, with salary for four months beyond December 31, 1945. Work was stopped by members of the mission on December 11th. He said that he and all the members of the mission he had talked to, believe this is a generous settlement.” Mr. Minor’s memorandum also set forth Mr. Pixley’s understanding that five named individuals had been invited to stay on and that their contracts had not been terminated.]
- Copies of note 222 to Mohammad Ali Homayunjah, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, and joint letter to Messrs. Pixley and Black, both dated November 17, 1945, were transmitted to the Department in despatch 149, November 17, 1945, from Tehran, not printed.↩
- Copy transmitted to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs by Mr. Minor in a letter of December 17, 1945, not printed. Mr. Minor became Chief of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs on December 3, 1945.↩