Ext 5000/47/3 'Persian situation: miscellaneous reports' [‎94v] (188/258)

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SECRET
Washington telegram No. 1.047 to Foreign Office,
and threats which had been extended in the past and which the
United States Government hoped to be able to extend in the
future* It might also be pointed out to the Shah that the
internal troubles which would be caused in Persia by such a
step would make it difficult for the United States Government
and perhaps also for the International Bank, to provide
financial assistance in connexion with the Seven Year Plan.
The State Department believe that such arguments should weigh
very heavily with the Shah.
4, State Department consider that the same line should be
taken.if Hajir s suggestion were adopted with a new Govern
ment intended to be strong in the sense that it would ignore
the views of the Majlis, In such circumstances the Govern
ment might be defeated in the Majlis and the Shah would then
have either to giveaway, which would be a serious blow to his
prestige, or to proceed unconstitutionally with his plans in
defiance of serious opposition and perhaps disorder within
Persia and of much criticism abroad. The State Department
believe that, if the Shah were to defy the Majlis, the
situation would be as dangerous as that which would be
created by a dissolution and that this, too, must thereford
be prevented if possible,
5, # Should a strong Government in this context only mean that
it is one which can persuade the Majlis to agree to the
convocation of a Constituent Assembly, the State Department
feel that the course suggested in paragraphs 3 a ftd 4 of your
telegram No. 145 to Tehran should be followed and the Shah
be left to get on with his reforms if he is unwilling to
listen to our advice. The State Department think that the
major dangers would be avoided if a proper constitutional
procedure were followed by the Shah in this manner, even
though there would undoubtedly be hostile criticism from the
Tudeh party and other malcontents.
6, These are at present the views of the Greek, Turkish
and Persian Division of the State Department only, but they
hope to get approval for the despatch of instructions in this
sense to the United States Embassy at Tehran in a day or two,
and they suggest that questions of timing should be worked
out by our two representatives at Tehran. Would you please
let me know by immediate telegram if you have any strong
objection to the course of action proposed?
Foreign Office.only. Please see my immediately following
telegram.
Foreign Office please pass to Tehran (Important) and to
Moscow and B,M.E,0,(Cairo) as my telegrams Nos. 11,15 and 33.
[Repeated to Tehran, Moscow and B.M.E.O.(Cairo)]
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