891.6363/9–1147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
872. I called on Qavam yesterday to read to him again pertinent portions of Department’s instructions of August 18 (Department’s telegram 487) regarding Soviet oil proposals and to give him views contained in memo of conversation between Henderson and Iranian Minister in Washington on August 19.1 I said it was desirable to leave no possible doubt in his mind, as to the exact American position in the matter particularly since other governments had recently made their views known to him, and he might possibly have gained the impression that we had altered our stand. During the conversation I emphasized that the world had changed since 1912 [1911] (see Embassy’s telegram 866, September 9) and expressed conviction that patriotic Iranians would not be deterred by threats. I said our support for Iran was conditioned upon Iran’s determination to defend its own sovereignty and ended with an expression of confidence that the same hand which had guided Iran through the Azerbaijan crisis, when similar threats had been employed, would see Iran through its present difficulties.
I am unable to assert that Qavam was swept off his feet by my remarks, but he seemed impressed. He said he would not be deterred by threats but was not certain how the Iranian people would react under the tension. He said riots and internal disturbances might arise or be inspired to affect the Majlis decision. He said his new Cabinet [Page 951] would be presented to the Majlis on September 14 along with the program of his government. Following this the oil question would be introduced. He hazarded a guess that the decision might be made on oil within ten days.
Sent Department 872. Department pass to Moscow as 100 and London as 110.