Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 1

891.105A/2–2548: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran

secret

Washington, March 9, 1948—6 p. m.

218. State and Army cannot agree with Emb view (urtel 224 Feb 25¹) that, even if Iran Govt should request it, American Army officer as comdr Iranian gendarmerie is no longer desirable. Our policy continues to be to accord Iran all reasonable assistance possible, in form requested. Anticipated Iranian request continuance command authority Chief gendarmerie mission (urtel 250 March 4²) is considered reasonable. We are able and willing to meet it.

We recognize fully conspicuous responsibility accepted by US in above position. At same time, Iranian request indicates approval past discharge command function by US officer and courageous Iranian disregard Soviet propaganda objectives (urtel 251 March 4²). US accession to request would reflect willingness help Iran achieve legitimate sovereign condition of internal security. Under Iranian decree summer 1947, gendarmerie is clearly divorced from Army and US agreement command purely internal security force cannot reasonably be interpreted, by Iran or Soviet Union, as threat to Iranian-Soviet good relations.

Since our suggestion immediate reassignment Schwarzkopf (Deptel 176 Feb 24²) was predicated upon imminent deletion command function from gendarmerie agreement, there now appears no reason pursue matter further at this time. Preliminary exploration possibility reassigning Schwarzkopf indicates important post will probably be available in Germany or Korea, but not in immediate future.

In view of your indication present disposition Iran FonMin and our estimate possibility change of Govt would reverse tendency to integrate Army and gendarm[er]ie, we suggest Emb not continue pressing for reply to Embassy’s note Feb 7.³

Sent Tehran 218; rptd Moscow 263.

Marshall

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3. Tehran advised, on March 17, that Minister of the Interior Ahmadi “told Schwarzkopf March 15 Iran Govt wished to continue services of gendarmerie mission without change. He assured Schwarzkopf emphatically that he would have full command authority and all prerogatives as specified in agreement.” (telegram 285, 891.105A/3–1748). Regarding the note of February 7, see first footnote 1, p. 107.