891.24/12–649: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran
1109. Urinfo while in Wash, Shah expressed his desire for MAP equipment including expressly (a) M–18 tank destroyers to bring total to 100 (b) 150 medium tanks for 3 battalions (c) 70,000,000 rounds 7.9 small arms ammo to bring total to 100,000,000, (d) motor transport.
Iran Emb now urges inclusion small arms ammo in program, saying best source supply is Canadian factory which may go out of production unless order placed shortly.
Dept is exploring problems all Shah’s requests and also recoilless rifles with Def and will cable further soonest obtain ur and Evans views light further aspects being developed. Though ur final views re program, in light desirability meeting some part Shah’s requests not included Emdes [281] Nov 18, shld await such further exploration pls tel now views Amb and Evans re (1) necessity supply level 7.9 ammo asked by Shah, and (2) extent to which needs this item can be met from local production.1
- In reply, on December 6, Ambassador Wiley stated that “Unless internal disorders develop, resulting in increased consumption rate, believe practicable for Iran to develop and utilize local capacity to build up, within reasonable time, the necessary stock level this ammunition. Hence do not recommend inclusion in MAP. Am confident Iranians do not agree.” (Telegram 1651, from Tehran, 891.20/12–1249)↩