121.891/14: Telegram
The Chargé in Iran (Ford) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 21—9:41 p.m.]
1131. From Hurley. Part 1. I have had prolonged conferences with the Shah; Prime Minister Soheily, Minister of Foreign Relations, Saed, Minister of the Court Ala and many other Iranians. I have also had conferences with the British and Russian representatives [Page 418] here and with the officials in the American Legation and all American advisors.
The Shah and his Minister of Foreign Relations and his Minister of State have advised me that they desire to create a closer commercial relationship with the United States. Yesterday the Prime Minister, Mr. Soheily, discussed with me means by which the commercial relationship between the United States and Iran could be strengthened and made more active.
Mr. Soheily also showed me a request which he had received from Mr. Carl Eisen, of the Metal and Ore Corporation, Woolworth Building, New York, who gave among other references the Chase National Bank of New York and First National Bank Boston. Mr. Eisen said he wished his engineers to enter Iran for the purpose of getting concessions on six different mines giving the general location of each mine. He also said that he desired to obtain concessions for other mines producing such metals as chrome, lead, copper, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, mercury, wolfram, emery, molybdenum.
Mr. Eisen said that his associate and vice president Mr. J. J. Haesler is now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil purchasing strategic metals for the United States Government. On the return of Mr. Haesler Mr. Eisen desires to send him to Iran. He mentions the names of other engineers whom he desires to send to Iran.
The Prime Minister told me that he was anxious to have American businessmen enter all Iranian fields of enterprise and stated that he is inclined to permit Eisen to send his engineers and other company representatives to Iran but he wished to know the character and financial responsibility of the company before granting the permit. High financial standing is not mandatory, of course, if applicants have other qualities of character and responsibility.
Suggest it would be well for your department to cooperate closely with Iran Government and scrutinize character and responsibility citizenship and other qualifications of all persons and concerns desiring enter Iran field. Iran is now anxious for Americans to open business relations here but this attitude towards United States could be injured if we permitted shoestring promoters and exploiters to enter as first Americans to arrive on ground. Under new conditions, there will no doubt be a great rush on part of United States businessmen to get oil, in East and other concessions in Iran. Department in my opinion should, with assistance of other agencies of Government, be able to advise Iran definitely about character and qualifications of every applicant for a concession.63
[Page 419]Prime Minister is now awaiting a report on Metal and Ore Corporation and Mr. Eisen, its president, before granting them a permit to send its engineers and other officials to Iran. This information for Prime Minister should be sent direct to this Legation or sent to Iran Legation in Washington.
Part 2. Iranians are convinced the President procured for [sic] three power declaration on Iran. While here President advised but me [sic] of his idea of basic relationship to be established United States and Iran. I have prepared tentative plan for this relationship which, when revised and approved by you, may become criterion for our relations not only with Iran but all less favored and liberated nations.
In view of your directive to me I am presuming President desires you to have a copy of this report. I am therefore sending report to President and copy to you.64
While in conference with Soheily yesterday he said it was his Government’s [desire?] to conclude early as possible the agreement regarding presence of United States troops now pending.65 [Hurley.]