891.6363/4–846: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Iran (Murray)
us urgent most immediate
281. We greatly regret that Emb has approached PriMin with regard to negotiations on behalf American oil companies.79 As stated in Deptel 238, Mar 24 we are anxious that impression should not be obtained that we have been influenced in our recent actions before Security Council by selfish interest in Iranian petroleum. In that telegram we stated that any interest which Americans might have in Baluchistan fields should not be discussed “in connection with withdrawal of Soviet troops and related problems”.
We do not wish any discussions with regard to possibility of Americans obtaining oil rights in Iran carried on by representatives this Govt or American oil companies at least until Soviet troops have evacuated Iran or until law prohibiting such negotiations is no longer effective. In no event should such discussions take place until Dept has stated that it has no objection and until arrangements have been made which would give interested American companies an equal opportunity.
Please make our position clear to representatives in Iran of interested American oil companies stressing they should make no approach on subject to the Iranian Govt until clearance has been given by Emb. We have informed interested oil companies in US in this sense.
In view of conversation reported in your telegram under reference you should again inform PriMin of our attitude in this regard.80
- In telegram 481, April 8, 11 a.m., from Tehran, (received April 8, 11:26 a.m.), the Ambassador had reported: “Jernegan [Second Secretary of Embassy] called on PriMin yesterday to ask whether he would now be willing to receive negotiators on behalf American oil companies. Qavam asked how soon they might be expected and was told it seemed unlikely any could reach Tehran in less than month. He thereupon said he would be perfectly willing to receive them. Asked whether this would embarrass him in his relations with Soviets, Qavam replied that so long as American interest was confined to Baluchistan he would anticipate no trouble in that respect.” (891.6363/4–846)↩
- In telegram 500, April 10, 4 p.m., Tehran reported: “Jernegan saw Qavam this morning and explained that our prior inquiry regarding possibility of American oil negotiations had been purely for background information and that American Govt did not desire early opening of such negotiations. PriMin said he understood and recalled that we had already made clear our position this regard. He remarked that there was plenty of time.” (891.6363/4–1046)↩