Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

891.00/6–1647: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran

secret
us urgent

Washington, June 21, 1947—3 p. m.

337. You may reiterate to Qavam position this Govt set forth Deptel 221 May 2 which you conveyed (urtel 364 May 9¹) to him May 9.

In our opinion rightful procedure for Iran to follow would be for it to appeal direct to Security Council if it should at any time have reason to believe that its independence or integrity is endangered because of threats or action of a foreign power and to inform world of true situation. It will be recalled that largely at US insistence Security Council is still seized of Iranian case.

This Govt’s policy with respect to the support of Iran’s independence must be well-known to Qavam as it has been demonstrated by our acts in the past. It remains unchanged so long as Iran sincerely desires independence and demonstrates willingness to stand up therefor.

We have no basis for approach to Soviet Union re Iran in absence of any complaint by Iran to UN or any overt Soviet threat or act against Iran. A critical approach to Soviet Union at this time by US would in our opinion be provocative rather than helpful and probably would fail to receive support of world opinion. In reply to points raised by Qavam urtel 511 June 16 you may again assure him that this Govt is prepared to support an appropriate World Bank loan to Iran for carrying out of projects which are beneficial to Iranian state and people and which fall within the limits of the Bank’s policies (Deptel 221 May 2). Re military supplies please again make clear that this Govt is anxious that Iran should not dissipate its limited financial resources on any military supplies other than those which in its opinion are absolutely essential for maintenance of peace and order. We have never urged Iran to purchase arms from us and have reluctantly agreed to sell military supplies because of Iranian insistence that they are essential to security of Iran. We are offering these supplies at a small fraction of cost of production or replacement on extremely reasonable credit terms; we have no basis in law for transferring military supplies to Iran as gift or for waiving actual costs of packing and shipping. As you have informed Qavam it is impossible without special Congressional legislation to furnish military supplies to Iran on terms more favorable than those agreed to and it would not be possible to prevail upon Congress to take special action in this regard at this time.

You may again assure Qavam that failure of US to include Iran along with Greece and Turkey in President’s message to Congress of Mar 12 does not mean that US is not as deeply interested in Iran and in maintenance of Iranian independence as it is in that of Greece and: Turkey and other members of UN. You may again point out that it would have been impossible for US to have included Iran without danger of further aggravating Soviet-Iranian relations.

It seems to us that decision of American Govt with approval of Congress to aid Greece and Turkey should be encouraging to Iran since it demonstrates clearly concern of US for countries which are under external pressures threatening their independence and which are prepared to resist such pressures.

For your own background in talking with Qavam it is difficult for us to believe that Qavam who cannot be entirely ignorant of manner in which international relations are conducted acted in good faith in requesting that we inform Soviet Union that US would declare hostilities against Soviet Union in case of Soviet aggression against Iran. We are wondering whether Qavam by making requests of a character which clearly cannot be met by us is not trying to produce a situation which would justify his accession to various Soviet demands on grounds of lack of assurance of US support of Iran against Soviet aggression.²

Marshall

1. Not printed.
2. Telegram 337 was repeated to London and Moscow by circular telegram on June 25, 1 a. m. (800.00 Summaries/6–2547). In telegram 2783, June 27, the Department authorized the Embassy in London to convey the contents of the message to the British Foreign Office, with the exception of the last paragraph (891.00/6–2647).