121.5491/7–246: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 3—1:17 p.m.]
942. Deptel 559, June 27. Embassy has forwarded by pouch full report on incident involving detention in Tabriz of Military Attaché personnel.73
Embassy’s protest was in form of letter to Chief of Protocol,74 reciting events which occurred and ending with following paragraph:
“I trust, dear Mr. Samii, that you will be able to take such action as will cause you to be able to assure the Embassy that further instance of this kind will not occur.”
In addition I have spoken to Samii about incident emphasizing diplomatic status of Americans involved and stressing necessity for Iran Govt to [be] respectful international practice this regard. I suggested issuance of written or stamped clearance for aircraft as means of avoiding difficulties but repeated insistence that persons with diplomatic status, and identified as such, should never be held in detention under any circumstances.
Last night Samii told officer of Embassy that Iran Embassy in Washington had forwarded Dept’s complaint to Foreign Office. He attempted to minimize incident but after several attempts to explain it away he finally admitted that thus far Central Govt simply has no control over province of Azerbaijan.
Sent Dept 94, repeated Tabriz 111.