Office of the Historian

891.20/10–1949: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran

secret
Washington, October 19, 1949—5 p. m.

913. From Jernegan. Regret confusion re mil aid to Iran.1 Sequence developments connec Iran MAP presently expected evolve as fols:

1.
Lt Col Brant, Dept Army, will leave in about ten days to inform you and Gen Evans latest MAP developments and discuss items tentatively proposed inclusion in Iran program. After discussion with you and Evans, list can be amended from Wash by cable and will then be ready for presentation to Iran at proper moment, either in Tehran or [Page 563] Wash. List carried by Brant will have tentative State–Def–ECA approval, but in view attitude US mil authorities tanks will probably not be included. However, Dept still considering possibilitity inclusion tanks on basis polit justification. If this question raised by Dept, final decision agencies concerned may not be taken immed.
2.
Bilateral agmt between US and Iran, setting forth gen terms under which matériel will be supplied, must be concluded before matériel may be transferred. This negot will be conducted in Wash thru Iran Emb, as in case other participating countries. Ur comments on terms agmt will be requested soon as tentative draft completed here. No discussion with Iran re matériel to be transferred will be initiated prior to signing agmt. No transfer or shipment of matériel will be made prior to ratification of agmt if Majlis action required by Iranian law. Since substantial portion of equipment programmed for Iran will probably come from new procurement time required for ratification shld not result in serious delay to program.
3.
Question of where and by whom negots on objectives and content of Iran program will be conducted still under study in Dept. It is hoped decision can be reached in this regard shortly. Present plan provides no discussion of specific items equipment in Iran program will be initiated prior to arrival of Shah. Opportunity will be presented Shah sell his bill of goods to top-level members USG during visit but without reference to specific bill matériel unless bilateral agmt has been signed. Ur comments requested.
4.
As you will have noted from background material transmitted to you (MAP Document D–F2), contemplated you be provided with civilian Special Asst for MAP problems. Dept now seeking suitable candidate this position.

Acheson
  1. Telegram 913 was the Department’s reply, presumably, to Tehran’s 1252, October 5, 8 a. m., not printed. The latter message indicated there was “some element of confusion” on technical elements concerning the question of military aid to Iran. (891.20/10–549)↩
  2. Dated June 15; see vol i, p. 328 ↩