861.24591/4–1046: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Iran (Murray)
us urgent most immediate
295. Reurtel 498 Apr 10. With reference to Qavam’s question whether Iran could return to Security Council at any time should subject be removed from agenda, please inform him immediately that while it is true that Council is intended to be in continuous session, actual experience in Iranian case up to present will demonstrate how difficult it may be in practice for Iran to obtain a prompt hearing. You should remind him Iran’s request to be heard at Council table 2 weeks ago was granted only after the most strenuous efforts on part of US and other members of Council.
You should add that if Iran should ask for the withdrawal of the case after it had insisted so strongly that it be kept on the agenda until May 6 impression might well be created that Iran had not been entirely frank with the Council. It might appear that Iran had been using Council merely to bargain for better terms rather than to obtain assistance in upholding principles. There is a danger that Iran consequently would run the risk of losing much of the world sympathy and support which it presently enjoys. Members of Council would be likely to receive without enthusiasm an Iranian request for restoring the case to the agenda and no assurance could be given that such a request would receive majority approval.
For your info I am leaving for France on Apr 2282 and probably will not be back in Washington until after May 6.
- To participate in the Second Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held at Paris from April 25 to May 16, 1946.↩