891.50/3–849
Memorandum by the Associate Chief of the Division of Eastern European Affairs (Hooker) to the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Hickerson)1
The request which the Iranian Ambassador is about to make that we “refute” the Soviet charges of US economic and military penetration in Iran raises a difficult question. It is assumed that the Iranian Government will have taken the necessary steps to complete the record in the UN, and that there will be no unwillingness due to Iranian inaction to go along with their request. Nevertheless it would seem scarcely appropriate for this Government to address a note to the Soviet Government undertaking any such refutation of the charges made in the Soviet note to Iran and in Soviet propaganda. Such an initiative on our part would certainly elicit a stinging reply and certainly does not look to me like a good move propaganda-wise.2
Another reason for not addressing any note to the Soviet Union is that it would imply some degree of accountability on our part to the Soviet Government. This raises the possibility, however, that it might reassure a fearful and bewildered world if we were to take some appropriate occasion to state, perhaps in a speech by the President or the Secretary, our profound sense of accountability to the world community.
[Here follow suggestions as to the nature and timing of the proposed statement.]