891.51A/347

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Persia (Philip)

No. 532

Sir: The Department has received and read with much interest your despatch No. 231 of December 30, 1926 commenting on the possible motives which inspired the representations made on December 18, 1926 by the Persian Minister in Washington regarding Dr. A. C. Millspaugh, the Administrator General of Persian Finances, as reported to you in the Department’s No. 52 of December 18, 6 p.m.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Department has noted with approval the attitude which you have assumed with respect to the rumored proposal to limit the present powers of Dr. Millspaugh in case a renewal of his contract should be decided upon by the Persian Government.

While the Department is not officially concerned in the above question it has, on numerous occasions, as you are aware, evinced its [Page 547] sympathetic interest in the work of Dr. Millspaugh and its willingness to render him, when possible, such assistance as might contribute toward the successful accomplishment of his duties.

It is therefore desired that upon appropriate occasions you lend your unofficial good offices in an endeavor to dissuade the Persian Government from taking any action with regard to the Administrator General that might tend to defeat the ends for which he was engaged by that Government and brought to Persia.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Leland Harrison