501.BC/10–2148: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, at Paris
Gadel 269. For Bohlen. While we recognize heavy burden agenda items upon entire US Del, hope you will not lose sight Dept decision that Iran would be well advised, at appropriate time, communicate to SC, for info only, recent developments Soviet-Iranian relations bearing upon Iranian case of which SC is still seized. Latest word on subject was statement Sept 14 to Amb Wiley by FonMin Noury-Esfandiary, confirmed Sep. 18 by Shah, Noury would discuss matter fully with Entezam in Paris.
If you feel overall East–West relations would not be adversely affected by Iranian communication and statement US support of position therein, you might wish consult with Noury and Entezam with [Page 188] view indicating time is now propitious. You may recall contemplated US statement would refute Soviet charges of imperialistic US activity in Iran hostile to USSR and would support Iranian thesis SC is appropriate arbiter of disputes threatening the peace.
In view repeated and as yet unrefuted Soviet inferences its unilateral right introduce troops into Iran on basis alleged Iranian violation Soviet-Iranian Treaty 1921, we are faced with fact USSR has laid uncontested legal basis, however spurious, for overt action against Iran. Furthermore we are somewhat concerned lest prospect of US support for Western Union might be interpreted in Middle East and USSR as implying decrease of US support for other periphery areas. In order reassure ME Govts as occasion arises, as well as dispel possible Soviet assumption lessening US interest in ME, Dept constantly exploring means meeting situation. Of direct interest Iran and doubtless indirect interest other ME countries, most immediate and effective means might be official US statement giving strong support to position which Iranian Govt might take in communicating with SC for its info. Otherwise Press reports of current conversations anticipating closer US association with Western Europe might well impel Soviet Union to discount risks involved in attempting enforce its asserted rights in Iran and dishearten Iran, in absence reiterated assurance US support, in its efforts to resist Soviet Union.1
- This telegram was repeated to Tehran as 1004 and to London and Moscow. Tehran replied on October 23 stating that the telegram was most timely and that Ambassador Wiley had discussed its substance with the Shah, who had indicated that he would have telegraphic instruction sent to the Iranian Delegation at Paris to confer at once with Mr. Bohlen of the American Delegation (telegram 1223, 501.BB/10–2348). Mr. Bohlen informed the Department, on October 26, that “So far the Iranians here have shown no interest of their own in pressing the matter and there is considerable doubt as to the general effect of so doing.” (telegram Delga 492 from Paris, 501.BC/10–2648)↩