701.9111/509: Telegram
The Chargé in Iran (Merriam) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 30—7:14 a.m.]
26. I have just been informed by Soheily8b that the Iranian Government has recalled all its representatives in the United States. Dissatisfaction with the Mirror article and the retraction was given as the reason. He added that the Government had the friendliest feelings towards me, would continue to be most friendly and would maintain relations with this Legation.
I replied that I felt at a loss what to say as I considered we had gone the full limit and beyond to adjust recent incidents. I emphasized that we had paid no attention to the scurrilous anti-American campaign here in the controlled press, making the points covered in Murray’s letter of February 26th.9
To this the Under Secretary made no reply saying that he was merely acting as a messenger. According to Soheily retraction though adequate from western standpoint revived ill-feeling by repeated reference to Shah’s alleged earlier career.
Although he stated that the Shah had not been shown the correction it is difficult to conceive that a decision of this importance has been taken without his Majesty’s approval. But he said that the Cabinet Ministers all agreed that they should not maintain representatives to be witnesses to affronts to the Shah.
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