891.002/1–548: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
10. In my first official call on Prime Minister Hakimi today I reviewed background of military credit, emphasizing that while we did [Page 91] not press our military supplies on anyone, I felt I should press Iran Government for early decision on question. Hakimi declared himself in favor of ratification of credit and said he would press matter to Majlis following receipt of vote of confidence.1
I also referred to recent opposition expressed by certain Iranians (Embtel 2, January 22) to American Military Mission in Iran, emphasizing that we were anxious to assist Iran whenever possible and that we maintained our missions here, despite urgent need for American military personnel elsewhere, only as result of Iran Government’s request and in desire to help develop Iran’s security forces. I said that at any moment Iran Government desired termination of these missions, they would leave promptly. I said I felt I should say, to be entirely frank, that Iranian request for withdrawal of American missions would be interpreted by American public as lack of interest by Iran in American assistance, adding that I did not mention this factor in order to urge retention of advisors but merely to state a fact. Hakimi interrupted my statement several times to assure me that he strongly desired retention of American advisors and said Iran could turn nowhere else for disinterested expert assistance.
At end of conversation Hakimi asked my views regarding American-Soviet relations as they might affect Iran. I said that while I could not pretend that there had been any improvement in our relations with USSR, I personally thought situation was better now than before London Conference since Iranians and everyone else at least knew the exact position. Hakimi expressed view that only way to deal with Soviets was to show strongest possible resistance to their aggressive tactics everywhere and in every detail.
Hakimi gave every evidence of his thorough devotion to democratic principles, and I believe him entirely sincere. If his forcefulness were equal to his good intentions he would make outstanding Prime Minister. His following in Majlis seems to be slightly increasing at moment, and best expectation is that he may get fair-sized vote of confidence within week.
- Tehran reported, on January 22, that the Iranian Prime Minister “repeated to press two days ago that government intended to buy 10 million dollars worth of arms from US. Thus he has at least committed himself publicly to program. He is posing as watchdog of Iranian Treasury by having reduced American purchase from 25 million dollars to 10 million dollars and has thereby escaped any great criticism for spending too much money on arms.” (telegram 77, 891.24/1–2248)↩
- Not printed; it summarized the address of a Deputy before the Majlis on January 1, said to be the first of eight speakers scheduled to oppose the Hakimi Government (891.032/1–248).↩