711.91/7–1447: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
641. Qavam asked me to come to him yesterday to read a recent telegram from Ambassador Ala, which stated that Ala had learned from State Department that the American Government would assist Iran only if the Iranian Government showed determination to defend its own sovereignty. Qavam asked me what it was we wanted Iran to do. He said that while he had endeavored to avoid provoking the Soviet Union he was confident that we understood and appreciated his efforts to defend Iranian sovereignty which was the sole aim of his policy. He asked whether we would like for him to assume an openly hostile attitude towards USSR.
I said I was confident that there was no such desire in Washington since our policy everywhere was to encourage friendly relations among nations. I said our own experience had shown however that genuine friendly relations could only be based on mutual respect and not on fear.
In response to Qavam’s request for evidence of his failure to insist upon Iran’s rights I referred to the continued occupation by Soviet authorities of Iran airport buildings, gasoline storage facilities and radio installations at Tabriz and Meshed over a year after USSR was supposed to have evacuated northern Iran, continued Soviet aviation activities here,1 Soviet failures to respect Iranian customs monopoly [Page 921] and other regulations, etc. Qavam took notes and gave every indication of determination to take action in these regards.
At end of conversation Qavam said in strictest confidence that his doctors had recently told him that he must undergo a serious operation. Qavam said he was inclined to have it performed in the US. He would not wish to let it be known that he had gone abroad for health reasons and is thinking of heading the Iranian delegation to the UN Assembly meeting in September. He would arrive in the US 2 or 3 weeks early allegedly for a vacation. He stressed his desire that no mention whatever be made of these plans.
- In telegram 590, July 1, noon, from Tehran, Ambassador Allen reported on a conversation on June 30 with Iranian Director of Civil Aviation Shafiq concerning Soviet aviation activity in Iran. Shafiq said that he had been directed to write a letter to the Soviet aviation company in Iran calling on it to cease its air activities in the country and to draft a note to the Soviet Embassy demanding reciprocal rights for Iranian planes to fly in the Soviet Union if Soviet planes continued to operate in Iran (761.91/7–147).↩