Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, Volume XXIII, Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean

166. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Mexico¹

Washington, October 21, 1979, 1938Z

275028. Eyes only for Charge. Subject: The Shah’s Illness.

1. Secret—Entire text.

2. FYI: Rockefeller’s office has informed us that Lopez Portillo sent the following message to the former Shah on October 20 responding to a request made to him by the Shah to permit Shah’s return to Mexico following medical treatment in U.S.:² Quote: Your home is always Mexico. This is your country. You are always welcome. We are distressed and disturbed by your health. A King should have premier medical treatment, you should go to the United States and we await your return. You can live anywhere in Mexico, be it Cuernavaca, Acapulco, or Mexico City. We will give you security and asylum. Unquote. End FYI.

3. Charge should see that following message is conveyed to GOM soonest by whatever channel you deem most appropriate:

A) We have decided to permit Shah to come to U.S. for private medical treatment on recommendation of French and American doctors who have been treating him. Their medical report has revealed that Shah has serious condition immediately requiring further diagnosis and evaluation, B) We understand that President Portillo has agreed to the Shah’s request to keep open the possibility of his returning to Mexico following his forthcoming medical treatment in the U.S. We wish to express our appreciation for this decision. He and Shahbanu³ will be travelling to U.S. immediately. We do not plan to publicize the travel and we would appreciate your government’s cooperation in maintaining confidentiality. If news of travel leaks, we plan low key confirmation that Shah is coming to U.S. for diagnosis and evaluation. We will keep you informed of developments following further medical evaluation.

4. Please report Niact Immediate when message delivered and any GOM reactions, which we assume will confirm above understanding of GOM willingness for Shah to return to Mexico.

5. We are in touch with Rockefeller group to arrange immediate travel to U.S. and on extremely confidential basis. Shah and Shahbanu have valid U.S. visas, but invalid Iranian passports. Request you appoint and inform us of name of officer to handle documentation. You should arrange passport waiver for entry into U.S. If you cannot insure that it can be done confidentially, please inform us and we will arrange waiver in U.S. at point of entry. Since former Shah and Shahbanu no longer have any claim to governmental authority in Iran, you should insure that visa is B–2 tourist visa (and multiple entry for maximum period of validity).

6. Current plans are for Shah’s departure from Mexico City for U.S. early tomorrow afternoon (October 22). Rockefeller representatives will be in contact with Embassy. We have given them Charge or Dunn as initial point of contact.⁴

Christopher

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 49, Mexico, 10/79–1/80. Secret; Cherokee; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Drafted in P; approved in P and S/S–O.
2. The Shah arrived in Mexico on June 10, despite opposition from both the left and the right. (Telegram 9653 from Mexico City, June 10, and telegram 9797 from Mexico City, June 13; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790265–0083 and D790270–0107)
3. Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran.
4. The Mexican Government was informed by U.S. officials on November 28 that the Shah wished to return to Mexico. Mexican officials proceeded to inform the Shah that his visa, which expired on December 9, would not be renewed and that “he would not want to return for such a brief period.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840131–1726) A November 30 Intelligence Report concluded that the Mexican Foreign Ministry decision not to renew the Shah’s visa was motivated by: 1) fears of assassination attempts against the Shah, 2) an opportunity to show the independence of Mexico’s foreign policy, and 3) the fact that the Shah had been offered safehaven elsewhere. ([report number not declassified]; National Archives, RG 59, Official Files of [P] David D. Newsom, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Lot 82D85, Box 4, SHAH: Asylum Contacts/Panama stay Nov. 1979) In telegram 21803 from Mexico City, December 28, the Embassy reported, “A possible further explanation for GOM reaction to the issues surrounding the Shah and U.S. Mexican relations since their decision not to readmit him may be provided by the following interchange between the Shah and Ambassador Margain. According to SRE Under Secretary Rosenzweig-Diaz, when Margain delivered the final GOM decision, the Shah’s immediate reaction was to ask ‛Did you clear this with Secretary Vance?’ If the Shah’s statement is reported accurately, it was guaranteed to raise Mexican ire.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840131–1723)