788.00/5–3150: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
995. Saw Shah this evening. Shah reiterated that Ali Mansur Government must stand or fall on an issue, meaning fall. Shah stated then there must be a strong government under influence of the monarchy. I inquired what would he foresee in way of composition of such government. Shah was unable to clarify his ideas on subject. We then spoke of General Razmara. Shah stated Razmara had, when “democratic regime” was ejected from Azerbaijan, won his confidence while many other generals had proven weaklings but he made it entirely evident that he has not as yet made up his mind to make Razmara Prime Minister. He stated that should he decide to make Razmara Prime Minister he would not go in as a general but would go in as a civilian, that there would be a clear-cut division between army and government. Moreover he stated that the gendarmerie would be reconstituted and would be under him and not under army.
I queried Shah re possible connection between attempt on his life, murder of Minister Court and assassination of Dehqan and Shah seemed to be singularly uninformed. Iran government intelligence re domestic affairs seems to be lamentably bad.