Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

811.22/333

The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State

No. 579

Tehran, June 10, 1943.
[Received June 24.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a list of incidents in which members of the American armed forces in Iran have been involved and which have called for rather voluminous exchange of notes between the Legation and the Foreign Office.

These incidents cover a period of more than a year. They have not been brought to the Department’s attention prior to this date because they have reached serious proportions only within the last few months. Many of these accidents and incidents are trivial and in a number investigation has shown that no blame could be attributed to the Americans involved. However, the growing volume of complaints from the Foreign Office about the conduct of the American troops and the frequency of automobile accidents have made it necessary to report the matter in detail. I would prefer, of course, to send the Department copies of all correspondence upon the subject but regret that it is much too bulky for my staff to cope with. The enclosure will give the Department a general picture of the nature and frequency of the incidents which have tended to make each successive note from the Foreign Office sharper in tone.

I realize that when a great body of troops are moved into a foreign country, there are bound to be a number of incidents offensive to the nation playing host no matter how sincerely the guests may endeavor to prevent them. However, their volume in Iran is alarming and I fear that if there is no improvement in this situation, our position in Iran may deteriorate. The incidents of drunkenness are particularly offensive to a Mohammedan people. The automobile accidents cannot be prevented entirely since fast driving is often necessary in the all-important job of moving war material to the Soviet Union. It must be remembered, too, that Iranian pedestrians are extremely careless and are often responsible for accident. Many of the accidents have been caused by Iranian chauffeurs rather than by American personnel.

There is no doubt that the numerous accidents and the rather frequent incidents of drunkenness and rowdyism have had an adverse effect on American prestige in Iran. However, as I pointed out before our forces came to this country and have remarked subsequently, this was to a certain extent unavoidable. I am not yet prepared to state that the conduct of our forces is much worse than the average of occupying forces. … I suggest that for the moment we keep an open mind on the subject, meanwhile making every endeavor to bring about an improvement. I will keep the Department fully informed of developments.

Respectfully yours,

Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr.

[Enclosure]

1. Note No. 6721/693 from Foreign Office dated May 24, 1942, A laborer was hit by a car driven at high speed by a member of the Greely Mission. Damages were paid.

2. Note No. 15112/1675 from Foreign Office dated August 12, 1942, concerning the injury to a gardener by a car driven by Lieutenant William Stewart. Officer in question gave the injured man 350 rials. No further damages were claimed.

3. Note No. 15494/1742 from Foreign Office dated August 18, 1942. Case of alleged drunken driving by American officer on Shimran road. Military paid 3,000 rials damages to woman who was hit.

4. Telegram from Consulate at Tabriz concerning arrest of Sergeants Conyers and McIlwain for beating up several Iranians. Army promised to punish the culprits.

5. Note No. 24728/3028 from Foreign Office dated November 12, 1942, concerning damage to Iranian Police car by an American army car. Foreign Office requests 300 rials for damage done. This amount was paid and Police Adviser Timmerman released army from any further claims.

6. Note No. 25322/3187 from Foreign Office dated November 18, 1942. Civilian truck driver of Douglas Aircraft hit and killed an unidentified woman. Iranian courts absolved the driver.

7. Note No. 25768/3298 dated November 23, 1942, from Foreign Office concerning fatal injury to Iranian woman by car driven by American officers. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. Army, on May 20, reported inability to locate the heirs so that it was impossible to start negotiations for damages.

8. Note No. 28002/4011 from Foreign Office dated January 6, 1943, concerning automobile accident in which 5 Iranians were injured. No damages were requested. Iranians were given American hospital treatment.

9. Note No. 29306/4098 from Foreign Office dated January 11, 1943, concerning Iranian who fell off an army bus. Army states matter must be referred to a Claims Commission.

10. Note No. 29310/4105 from Foreign Office dated January 11, 1943, concerning damage to a municipal bus by a U.S. Army truck, caused allegedly by the high speed of the latter. 6,000 rials requested. Army says it will have to be referred to a claims commission.

11. Note No. 31183/4298 from Foreign Office dated January 24, 1943, concerning damage done to Iranian Army car by American Army car. Foreign Office requested payment; army stated on February 2 that matter was under investigation.

12. Oral complaint by Colonel Ross of British Army about civilian employee Holt being drunk and disorderly at Hotel Darband where he struck a Russian. Army promised to reprimand him.

13. Letter dated February 24, 1943, from Persian Gulf Service Command concerning fatal shooting of Mohammad Ali Azhdar by American sentry. Foreign Office requests damages and army asks relatives to make a formal claim.

14. Note No. 34477/5031 from Foreign Office dated February 27, 1943, concerning killing of Iranian by Army water tanker. Damages were apparently paid.

15. Note No. 588/134 from Foreign Office dated April 4, 1943, concerning murder of one Aziz, laborer for U.S. forces, by American troops pursuing an Arab woman. Army says case is in abeyance while Arab witness is being sought.

16. Note No. 796/222 from Foreign Office dated April 5, 1943, concerning drunken American soldiers shooting out the lights in the National Park at Arak. Army says investigation is being made and Americans, if any are involved, will be punished.

17. Note No. 1476/441 from Foreign Office dated April 14, 1943, concerning injury to Iranian cab driver by an American army car. Foreign Office requests damages. Army has been unable to locate the driver.

18. Note No. 1600/483 from Foreign Office dated April 15, 1943, concerning fatal accident involving an unidentified woman, hit by American army car. Foreign Office requests investigation and punishment. No answer yet.

19. Note No. 1602/460 from Foreign Office dated April 15, 1943, concerning injury to a policeman by an “Allied” car in Tehran. Foreign Office requests punishment. No answer yet.

20. Note No. 1864/557 from Foreign Office dated April 16, 1943, concerning fatal accident involving army truck and pedestrian near Arak. Foreign [Office] requests damages. No answer yet.

21. Note No. 1860/543 from Foreign Office dated April 18, 1943, concerning injury to a pedestrian by an American car. Foreign Office requests damages and punishment. No answer yet despite follow-ups by both Foreign Office and Legation.

22. Letter dated around April 18, 1943, from S. Nikkae concerning damage done his car by American truck. No answer yet.

23. Letter from Basra Consulate dated April 19, 1943, concerning the theft of a barrel of Arak at Bushire by American soldiers. No complaint received. No action taken.

24. Note No. 1070/297 from Foreign Office concerning quarrel between two American Foley Bros, employees. Foreign Office requests they be turned over to Iranian authorities. Army tried them by court martial and acquitted them.

25. Note No. 2450/688 from Foreign Office dated April 24, 1943, concerning fatal injury to a four year old child. Foreign Office points out increased number of accidents caused by American recklessness and requests damages. Army absolved driver of all blame.

26. Note No. 2452/691 from Foreign Office dated April 24, 1943, concerning injury to Iranian woman by American car. Foreign Office requested damages. Driver was exonerated by Persian Gulf Service Command.

27. Note No. 383 from Foreign Office dated April 26, 1943, concerning an incident on the railway in which 3 American soldiers attacked two women. Foreign Office requested punishment and steps to prevent such occurrences. Army found one soldier guilty and he will be tried by court martial. Convicted soldier has agreed to pay for the damage done to the train.

28. Note No. 4097/881 from Foreign Office dated May 1, 1943, concerning injury to old pedestrian in Arak. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. No answer yet.

29. Note No. 4101/865 from Foreign Office dated May 1, 1943, concerning the damage done to a store in Arak by drunken American soldiers. Foreign Office requests culprits be punished. No answer yet.

30. Note No. 4217/866 from Foreign Office dated May 2, 1943, concerning fatal shooting of Iranian accused of stealing military stores in Andimeshk. American responsible was tried by Court Martial and given life sentence at hard labor.

31. Note No. 5059/1159 from Foreign Office dated May 10, 1943, concerning three truck accidents killing members of the Lur tribe in April. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. Still under investigation by army.

32. Note No. 5037/1095 from Foreign Office dated May 10, 1943, concerning fatal accident involving army truck and a bicycle. Foreign [Office] requests punishment and damages. Army says accident.

33. Note No. 5057/1158 from Foreign Office dated May 10, 1943, concerning an incident in which an American soldier apparently struck a cook’s boy causing blood to flow from his head and face. Foreign Office states Iranian police saved the American from an angry crowd. Foreign Office requests punishment of offender and steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. No answer yet.

34. Note No. 5041/1101 from Foreign Office dated May 10, 1943, concerning damage to private car by American truck driven by an Iranian who did not possess a driver’s license. Foreign Office requests driver be turned over to Iranian police. No answer yet.

35. Personal complaint at Legation on May 14, 1943, by newsboy who says he was shot in the hand by an American sentry. Matter taken up with Military but no answer yet received.

36. Note No. 5435/1325 from Foreign Office dated May 16, 1943, concerning fatal killing of a laborer by a railroad train driven by an American engineer. Foreign Office requests damages. No action yet taken.

37. Note No. 6449/1333 from Foreign Office dated May 16, 1943, concerning injury to pedestrian by “Allied” automobile. No answer received as yet.

38. Note No. 5463/1320 from Foreign Office dated May 16, 1943, concerning the killing of a mule by an American automobile. Foreign Office requests damages. No answer yet.

39. Note No. 5461/1319 from Foreign Office dated May 16, 1943, concerning an incident in Arak where two Americans tried to molest a woman, grappled with a gendarme, made outrageous demonstrations in front of a woman’s bath, and fired on the crowd that had gathered. Foreign Office requests that emphatic orders be given that American soldiers refrain from such demonstrations. No answer yet.

40. Note No. 5453/1335 from Foreign Office dated May 18, 1943, concerning the inability of Iranian customs officials to control contraband on Ahwaz-Khorramshahr line as the station is in the middle of British and American camps. Foreign Office wishes to establish a control post at the station. No answer yet.

41. Note No. 5427/1321 dated May 16, 1943, from Foreign Office concerning the wounding of an American soldier by an Iranian who allegedly was trying to assist a woman the American had in a droshky. Foreign Office requests the case be handled by Iranian police. No answer yet.

42. Note No. 5439/1321 from Foreign Office dated May 16, 1943, concerning a fatal accident to pedestrian by “allied” car. Foreign Office requests damages if the car was American. No answer yet.

43. Note No. 5893/1408 from Foreign Office dated May 19, 1943, concerning an incident in which an American on a passing bus grabbed a woman and dragged her to him. She escaped, screaming. Attracted by her screams, a laborer approached and was fired upon by the driver of the American bus. Note also reports incident of drunken Americans at the Railway station beating and knifing an Iranian policeman; incident of drunken Americans knocking on peoples’ doors in Shimran; and an incident in which two American soldiers left Cafe Shemshad without paying their bill and broke the windows. Foreign Office requests punishment for these incidents and that steps be taken to prevent their recurrence. No answer yet.

44. Note No. 5869/1404 from Foreign Office dated May 19, 1943, concerning injury to Government employee by “Allied” car. Legation told Foreign Office it would investigate if it could be established that an American car was involved.

45. Note No. 5951/1469 from Foreign Office dated May 19, 1943, concerning injury to cartman and killing of his horse by an American army truck. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. No answer yet.

46. Note No. 5941/1462 from Foreign Office dated May 19, 1943, concerning case in which two bodies were brought to Iranian Police at Andimeshk. The Americans reported that their death was due to an automobile accident. Examination, however, revealed they had been killed by rifle wounds. Foreign Office requests careful investigation, punishment, and damages. No answer yet.

47. Note No. 5953/1410 from Foreign Office dated May 20, 1943, concerning fatal injury to laborer by U.S. army truck. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. No answer yet.

48. Note No. 817 from Foreign Office dated May 25, 1943, concerning quarrel between American soldiers and an Iranian foreman in which the latter died of a bayonnet wound. Foreign Office requests punishment and damages. No answer yet.

49. Letter from Persian Gulf Service Command dated March 22, 1943, concerning wounding of native who was apparently stealing iron pipes. Foreign Office informed by Legation no complaint was ever received. Man was given hospital treatment by the army.