Memorandum Regarding Persia

Persia, or Iran as we have always called our country, with a population of 17 millions, is not so small as it is believed to be by many people in the United States. Its territory covers an area of about 628,000 square miles, or approximately the same superficie as California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico put together. There is no region in this distracted globe, and particularly in the critical Middle East, more strategically situated, endowed with greater potential wealth, and more worthy of attention than that ancient land which was the cradle of the Aryan race. It is the link that joins the East to the West, on the cross roads of India and the Mediterranean, between the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean in the south. With- out exaggeration, it may be called the spinal column of the Middle East. Persia has been, from the most ancient times, the center in which art and culture have found a clearing house and from which they have radiated to- wards other countries of the Near and Middle East. Persian was the diplomatic language of the East, as French was, and still is, of the West. In fact, Iran has occupied in the Orient a position similar to that of France in Europe. A country geographically situated as Iran is has naturally always been expesed to constant invasions by stronger neighbours; but throughout the vicissitudes of her long history, going back at least three thousand years, she has succeeded in maintaining her independence and in assimilating the invaders who adopted her superior civilization. Another factor makes Iran all important to the world; and that is OIL. The most prolific oil fields are to be found in Persia, which ranks fourth in the list of petroleum producing countries. Our experience in granting con- cessions to foreigners has led us to the realization of the necessity of keeping the exploration and exploitation of our natural resources in our own hands, whilst profiting from the technical assistance of politcally disinterested countries. : *NATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE' ARCHIVES