891.00/1941: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—7:54 p.m.]
375. Department’s 317, November 12. Wheat situation in Tehran has taken even more critical turn. Sheridan has only a half day supply in silo and wheat is coming in from provinces very slowly. Famine may come at any time and Sheridan is preparing to open soup kitchens if necessary.
[Page 196]In view of this dangerous situation I feel we should take positive and immediate steps, with British consent or without it. I recommend that Department arrange urgently for shipment of wheat to Iran from India at rate of about 5,000 tons a month and further that 5,000 additional tons referred to in paragraph 2 of Department’s 31469 come forward without delay. Wheat from India could (1) be considered to represent the 20,000 tons British [apparent omission] Indian Government against replacement by wheat from other sources. Shipment from India is recommended because wheat from more distant places might not arrive in time to meet the crisis should it arise. While Sheridan may possibly be able to obtain sufficient wheat to tide country over for several months, my opinion is that we cannot afford to gamble while the lives of several thousand people are at stake.
In line with the views expressed in paragraph 6 of Department’s 314, November 9 [10] with which I am in full accord, I have urged British Minister to agree to immediate publication of wheat declaration but he prefers first to obtain definite assurance of Iranian concessions, particularly as to unlimited supply of rials. Prime Minister informs me he is presenting declaration to Majlis tomorrow.
My suspicions that British are carrying on machinations to obtain a puppet government or even occupy Tehran (see my No. 362 November 4 [7]) have been confirmed by two documents which originated in British Legation, copies of which have fallen into my hands. One of these outlines an entirely new Cabinet with Mohamad Sadig Tabatabai as Prime Minister and containing many persons known to be pro-British or British tools. The other gives a proposed Government program which would reduce powers of Shah, increase number and powers of American advisers, control press, set up war council with American military adviser as one member, require more Iranian cooperation with Allies and make Government more subservient to British.
Copies of these documents are being sent Department by next airmail.70