293. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Allen) to the Acting
Secretary of State1
Washington, January 31,
1955.
SUBJECT
- President’s Interest in Additional Military Aid for Iran
Discussion:
When the Shah of Iran was in Washington, the President, aware of the
opportunity we have to build up strength in a hitherto weak country in
Asia, told you that he did not want the Shah to leave this country
without receiving definite evidence of our interest in assisting his
country to become a stronger member of the free world community. The
President indicated that he would be favorably inclined to give an
additional increment of military aid to Iran this fiscal year, and an
amount of $10–$20 million has been mentioned in this connection.2 It is believed that the training program being initiated
in Iran is most important and has need of further support in order for
its full effectiveness to be realized.
The Shah plans to leave the United States on February 11 and will have a
final conversation with senior officers of the Department of State just
prior to his departure. When he was in Washington, he was told that
United States Government officials would give urgent consideration to
the questions he raised about further development of the Iranian armed
forces. It would be, therefore, appropriate and, in our view, very
useful to inform the Shah before he leaves this country that, in view of
the importance we attach to improved training of Iran’s armed forces,
the President has directed an immediate increase in military aid to Iran
for that purpose.
Recommendation:3
That you forward to the President the attached recommendation (Tab A) for
an additional increment of military aid to Iran and suggested language
(Tab B) which the White House staff might find useful in preparing a
directive from the President to Defense and FOA, if he concurs in your recommendation.
[Page 699]
[Tab A]
Draft Memorandum for the President
SUBJECT
- Increased Military Aid for Iran
The Shah of Iran will complete his visit to the United States on
February 11. He has gained a favorable impression from his visit,
but he has continued to ask whether any decisions have been made in
Washington concerning the questions he raised about possibilities of
developing his armed forces. Increasing the efficiency of the
Iranian army will be a crucial element in continuing and
strengthening the recent movement of Iran toward Western
orientation, toward developing greater potential for resistance to
aggression, and toward an eventual role in Middle East defense
arrangements.
All interested United States agencies agree the first problem to be
met in developing strength in the Iranian military establishment is
better training. The Department of Defense is sending special
training teams to accomplish this purpose. A request has been made
by our military and civilian representatives in Iran for $4 million
to provide the Iranians with such essential training facilities as
firing ranges, training aids, field equipment and clothing to permit
maneuvers. As training proceeds, the absorptive capacity and needs
of the Iranian army will increase and additional equipment will be
necessary to allow full advantage to be taken of our training
teams.
You have expressed the wish that the Shah receive, before his
departure from the United States, some tangible evidence of our
earnest desire to help him and mentioned that you would be willing
to consider between $10 and $20 million of additional military aid
for this fiscal year. It is believed a supplementary program of $15
million would achieve your purpose. This sum would directly
facilitate a fuller utilization of potentialities offered by the
training program which is the first requisite in Iran and, if given
at this time, would have most favorable psychological and political
effects.
I, therefore, recommend that you direct appropriate officers of this
Government to provide approximately $15 million as an additional
increment to support our training program in Iran. The Shah could
then be informed of the substance of this decision just prior to his
departure from the United States when officials of the Department of
State will be holding conversations with him in New York. A
suggested text is attached.
[Page 700]
[Tab B]
Draft Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Defense (Wilson), and the
Director of the Foreign Operations Administration (Stassen)
SUBJECT
- Additional Military Assistance for Iran
- 1.
- After a discussion with the Shah of Iran on December 13, 1954
concerning the Iranian armed forces, the President indicated his
desire to give the Iranian Government some help in meeting
additional costs incidental to developing more effective armed
forces.
- 2.
- The President wishes the Shah to be informed before his
departure on February 11 of the fact that the United States
Government will provide additional assistance, and requests that
the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the
Foreign Operations Administration consult together in order to
provide funds roughly in the order of $15 million, in addition
to existing military and economic assistance programs. These
additional funds should be devoted principally to assist the
Iranian Government to meet additional costs arising from the
military training program being initiated and should be
available for defense support type of requirements as well as
military equipment.
