891.00/8–548: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
3549. Embassy’s 3548, August 5,1 Pyman advised Embassy August 4 that while Shah was staying at Buckingham Palace he remarked to King that he would like to have an Anglo-Iranian alliance. King was extremely noncommittal and in all future conversations with Shah British officials were careful not to raise subject again and were thankful when Shah neglected to do so.
2. Pyman said His Majesty’s Government attitude is that it would be extremely undesirable for Iran to conclude such an alliance with UK because of trouble it would cause with USSR and because it is difficult to see what advantage it would be to either Iran or UK. Pyman said it is conceivable that by “alliance” Shah may have had in mind [Page 171] granting strategic facilities to UK, but this, too, would affect Iranian-Soviet relations adversely and would be likely to produce unnecessary trouble for UK.
3. Had Shah raised question His Majesty’s Government would have replied that an alliance would be difficult and complicated matter requiring considerable study.
4. Pyman said Top Secret letter on this subject is being sent British Embassy Washington for discussion with Department. He is particularly anxious that classification should be respected.
Sent Department 3549, repeated Tehran 71.
- Not printed.↩