891.6363A/3–347: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran
us urgent
105. We recognize possibility (urtel 154, Mar 3) Qavam may desire employ American expert to share responsibility in case oil concession is refused Russians. It is also possible Qavam, in case he is determined to grant Soviet concession, desires have support American expert in order make such grant more palatable to certain segments Iranian opinion. However, we feel that any objection or reserve on our part might well make Qavam timid or uncertain of our interest and support.
In answering Qavam’s inquiry, you should limit your remarks to statement that, in keeping with our traditional policy of assisting friendly states upon request, particularly Iran in view of Declaration 1943, we have no objection Iranian Govt employing qualified American for purpose expert technical advice on petroleum question.1
1 In telegram 161, March 5, Ambassador Allen reported that he had conveyed the substance of telegram 105 to Prime Minister Qavam who said he would direct Hussein Ala, the Iranian Ambassador in the United States, to employ an Amer-
- In telegram 161, March 5, Ambassador Allen reported that he had conveyed the substance of telegram 105 to Prime Minister Qavam who said he would direct employed.” (891.6363A/3–547)↩