Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Ambassador of Iran Allahyar Saleh

MA CONFIDENTIAL 997 279-a September 18, 1952 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION Participants: Mr. Saleh, the new Iranian Ambassador Mr. Acheson Mr. Saleh called at his request to present his credentials and to arrange to be received by the President. He handed me his papers and also the attached letter from former Ambassador Ala to which I should reply. After an exchange of courtesies, he said that he had been requested by the Prime Minister at the earliest date to impress upon me the extreme urgency of the situation in Iran; the rapid deterioration of the economy of the country; the growth of communist agitation, and to state that the Iranian Government asked for our most immediate and sympathetic help in resolving the problem. He felt that in a short time the matter might get beyond control. He said that I had undoubtedly been informed of the proposals of the Prime Minister as laid before the Parliament. I replied that I of course had been informed of them but I had not yet had an opportunity to consider them in detail with my associates and therefore would not comment on them. I asked whether the Ambassador was able to inform me as to the procedures which the Prime Minister had in mind -- Was he, for instance, contemplating making some reply to the proposals which had been made to him? The Ambassador said that the Prime Minister could of course do this, but it was the Ambassador's impression from the past procedures followed by the Prime Minister that he would regard his communication to the Parliament as sufficient opening for further negotiation. The Ambassador asked whether I requested a reply. I said that I was making no request but merely seeking information. DECLASSIFIED The Ambassador E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, I 10-2026 Bg NLT- HC a NARS Date 11 29-16 CONFIDENTIAL