Office of the Historian

179. Memorandum for the Record1

Washington, March 18, 1953.

REFERENCE

  • Mr. Roosevelt’s recent talk with Woodhouse and Firth on Iran

The general subject of Mossadegh’s continuance in office was discussed here by top State Department officials with Mr. Eden.2 Gist of discussion was to effect that situation has materially altered since December. While there is no obvious choice in sight to replace Mossadegh it is felt that any assets which could be rallied to support a replacement should, if at all possible, he preserved for at least a few months more until the course of events may be clarified.

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DDO Files, Job 79–01228A, Box 11, Folder 14, Iran 1951–1953. Confidential. A handwritten note on the memorandum indicates that it was seen by Wisner. No other record of this meeting has been found.↩
  2. See Document 172 and footnote 2, Document 173.↩