Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Iran, 1951–1954, Volume X

888.2553/7–2751: Telegram

No. 57
The Special Assistant to the President (Harriman) to the Department of State¹

top secret
niact

Tehran, July 27, 1951—8 a.m.

397. From Harriman for President and Secretary; distribution only as directed by Secretary’s office. For the last two days Brit Amb has been telling Iran officials that Brit Govt will not consider Iran Govt’s proposal unless Iran first agree to court decision or status quo, along lines of his statement to FonMin reported mytel to Dept 382, London 74 July 25.² In accordance with my suggestion few days ago, the Shah also received him Thursday.

I have succeeded so far in inducing Mosadeq to disregard these statements until hearing officially from London, as otherwise he wld have made aggressive statement to Majlis making more difficult if not impossible Brit acceptance of proposal.

Thursday³ evening Rountree called on Shepherd who reiterated these two alternatives. When Rountree pointed out political impossibility of these steps, and that if he continued insistence upon them the only result wld be Iran insistence on prior acceptance of 9 point law, Amb said that he cld not recommend Brit Govt acceptance of proposal, at least until tension was relieved in south. He minimized grave consequences of another impasse.

Earlier Thursday afternoon I saw oil comm with FinMin and Busheri to ask them to take appropriate steps to relieve tension. As Brit Amb had spoken to one of senators along lines stated in first para above, they were indignant and not in mood to make further gesture until Brit reply was known. They said that tension wld automatically be relieved if favorable response was received from Brit. At my earnest request, however, they discussed several ways this might be done at once and decided the only practical and political possibility was to ask Mosadeq to send msg to Abadan requesting Irans to make every effort to create more friendly atmosphere. They agreed to discuss matter with Mosadeq Thurs night.

In the frame of mind that Mosadeq is in as result of Brit Amb’s conversations, all of which have been reported to him, I am not too optimistic as to Mosadeq’s reaction.

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Harriman

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1. Repeated to London eyes only for the Ambassador.
2. Document 55.
3. July 26.