Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXII, Iran

208. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State¹

Paris, June 6, 1967, 1220Z.

19914. For the President and the Secretary of State from Harriman. Ref State 208388.² Called on Shah this morning and conveyed message in reftel. He is remaining in Paris today for talk and luncheon with De Gaulle, then returning to Tehran tomorrow, Wednesday June 7. He regrets not having opportunity for talks with the President and hopes to come to Washington at a later date. He agreed to inform our Ambassador Meyer fully on his talks with De Gaulle and his analysis of where De Gaulle is heading in Middle East.

Shah expressed earnest desire to continue close exchange of views on developments. He believes Nasser’s claim of intervention by US and British planes is to have future basis that his forces were not defeated by Israel alone.

The Shah hopes the Soviets will not intervene militarily on pretext to offset U.S. action. I told him that our contacts with Soviet Government led us to believe Soviets would not intervene and had indicated that all should work for cease-fire and return to old positions. I also said we understand Israel had no territorial ambitions, only assurance of free passage to Gulf of Aqaba.

Shah urged that we should now consider long range problem of Nasser. We could not tolerate flare-ups every few years. He said Nasser’s aggressive plans must be stopped.

Shah raised question of his initiative regarding Vietnam which I will report in septel.

Bohlen

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 ARAB–ISR. Secret; Exdis. Passed to the White House. Although the Embassy requested that the Department pass the telegram to Tehran eyes only for Meyer, a note on the source text indicates the Department did not do so.
2. Telegram 208388 to Paris, June 5, informed Harriman that the Department believed that it was desirable for him to speak to the Shah Tuesday (June 6) morning and state that the President of course deferred to the Shah’s judgment as to whether he should return home, but would be most disappointed not to have an opportunity for personal discussions on many subjects, including especially the Middle Eastern crisis. (Ibid.)