761.91/9–2547
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson) to the Acting Secretary of State
Subject: Draft Telegram to Ambassador Allen in Tehran Suggesting Action which Iranian Government Might Take to Prevent Success of Intensified Soviet Interference in the Internal Affairs of Iran.
Discussion:
Reports from our Embassy in Tehran indicate that within the very near future the Iranian Majlis (Legislature) may decline to ratify the Soviet-Iranian oil accord of April 4, 1946. A strong Soviet reaction is to be expected. Should that reaction involve definite interference by [Page 959] the Soviet Union in the internal affairs of Iran, the Department will support the Iranian Government in such defensive action as it might take in the United Nations, (Tab A, Deptel 497, Aug 20). We believe, however, that there are certain measures which the Iranian Government itself should take in advance of possible Soviet interference which might lessen the possibility of Soviet disruption of security within Iran. (Tab B, Deptel 434, July 29). In elaboration of our earlier suggestion to Ambassador Allen that Iran would be well-advised to unify the divergent elements within its borders, the attached draft telegram stresses the immediate importance of resolving the long-standing personal feud between the Shah and Prime Minister Qavam. In view of the close relation between the internal unity of Iran and Iran’s defense of its independence against Soviet interference, we feel justified in the present crisis in suggesting that Ambassador Allen in his discretion communicate our views to appropriate Iranian leaders.
Ambassador Allen’s speech to the Iran-American Relations Society in Tehran on September 11 (Tab C, Embtel 874, Sept. 11), approved by the Department in Deptel 557, Sept. 12,1 (Tab D), constitutes a firm American defense of Iran’s right to make an independent decision concerning an oil concession to the Soviet Union. That statement seems (Tab E, Tehran’s 877, Sept. 14; 833 [883?],2 Sept. 16; 891, Sept. 18) to have corrected the weak attitude which was appearing in both the Shah and Prime Minister Qavam (Tab F, Tehran’s 866, Sept. 9). In view of the desirable effect of Ambassador Allen’s statement upon Iranian reaction to Soviet threats, we feel such suggestions as Ambassador Allen might make to appropriate officials along the line of the attached draft telegram might be both welcome and effective. Without unity in Iran, Soviet overtures to dissident elements might well defeat our purpose of assisting Iran in the preservation of its independence.
Recommendation;
Your signature of the attached draft telegram3 will implement the Department’s desire to see Iran free from Soviet domination.
Concurrences;
The attached draft telegram has been approved by the Acting Director of EUR4 and Deputy Director of SPA,5 against a background [Page 960] of wide discussion throughout the Department of the present crisis in Iran.
Attachments:
Document to be signed: Draft telegram to Tehran.
- Telegrams: Tab A, Deptel 497, Aug. 20.
- Tab B, Deptel 434, July 29.
- Tab C, Embtel 874, Sept. 11.
- Tab D, Deptel 557, Sept. 12.
- Tab E, Tehran’s 877, Sept. 14; 833 [883?],2 Sept. 16; and 891, Sept. 18.
- Tab F, Tehran’s 866, Sept. 9.
- Tab G, Deptel 476, August 14.6
- Not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 952.↩
- Nos. 883 and 891 not printed.↩
- For telegram as sent, see infra.↩
- Llewellyn E. Thompson, Jr.↩
- Clearance by SPA was actually provided by Robert M. McClintock, Special Assistant to the Director of that Office (Rusk).↩
- Nos. 883 and 891 not printed.↩
- Not printed; in discussing the tribal situation in Iran, the Department gave its approval of “Emb practice recommending both Govt and tribes use only constitutional means in interest unity and internal security as necessary prerequisites effective relations with neighboring states.” (711.91/8–1447)↩