Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, President Harry S. Truman, Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mossadeq, and Lieutenant Colonel Walters

DECLASSIFIED AK E. a 11632, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (1) Dapt. al State letter, 5-17-26 ban SECURITY 82 NLT- 46 : NARS Date 6-30-76 Memorandum of Conversation coy 458 311 Place: Blair House Date: October 23, 1951 AND = Present: The President of the United States Secretary of State Acheson Pr ime Minister Mossadegh Lt. Colonel Walters The President opened the conversation by saying that he did not wish to go into the problems which had brought Dr. Mossadegh to the United States during lunch because he wanted the Prime Minister to enjoy the lunch. The Prime Minister replied that he had had a good rest and a good lunch, and was completely at the President's disposal for anything he wished to say. The President said that we were vitally interested in seeing that a just settlement was reached on this problem. We were the friends of the Iranians and likewise the friends of the British. We had no national or private interest in the matter other than achieving a fair settlement. Dr. Mossadegh replied that he knew this, and it was with this hope that he had come to Washington. The President then said that this was the fundamental basis of our thinking on this whole problem. Secretary Acheson then said that the President had accurately set forth the situation; that our only interest was in seeing this problem settled between our friends. He said that we had had, through Mr. McGhee, a number of useful conversations with Dr. Mossadegh. If he understood the Prime Minister's thinking correctly from what had been reported to him, he believed that the fundamental point which the Prime Minister had in mind was that the British operation of the oil industry in Iran -- with the possibilitie that this gave for interference in the internal affairs of the sountry -- must cease. On other matters, as he understood it, the Prime Minister was ready to come to a reasonable settlement. Dr. Mossadegh stated that this was the case. The President then asked whether the British had been informed of these talks. Secretary Acheson indicated that they had not. He said that we would respect the Prime Minister's confidence, and would never tell the British what he had said to us. Dr. Mossadegh expressed his appreciation for this protection of his confidence. 700 SECHET