<--PREV Doc #2132  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #2134 Document #2133; December 10, 1956 To Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Iran The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part XI: The free world's "sad mess"; October 1956 to January 1957 Chapter 23: What is needed is "a calming influence"   Your Imperial Majesty: Thank you most sincerely for your letter of November twentieth and for your kind words about my re-election.1 Your views regarding recent events in Europe and in the Middle East I have read with care and with great interest. As we face the dangers of which you speak, there can be no doubt in our minds that the free world must base its hopes for peace more and more upon the joint efforts of free nations and upon their regional associations. Iran can indeed be proud of the part it is playing, along with its neighbors, in the efforts to restore peace and to maintain security in the Middle East. Given close cooperation between free nations in collective efforts to maintain peace, even the largest nations cannot act with impunity and the nations that may be exposed to danger are not alone. The validity of this principle was clearly demonstrated in 1946, when Iran regained sovereign control over its northwest territories.2 I have especially noted Your Majesty's words about the lack of preparation to face a sudden emergency. This is, indeed, a problem of mutual concern. The United States has in recent years attempted to assist Iran in strengthening its economy and its armed forces. Such assistance will, of course, continue, insofar as our capabilities and the requirements of the rest of the free world will permit. I am confident that with continued close cooperation between the Government of Iran and the various United States Missions in Iran this aid will produce even more important gains for Iran than have been registered in the past. The needs of Iran and the demands of her unique position in the Middle East are being given our constant attention. Our Ambassador and the members of our missions have reported fully on the requirements of Iran and the problems with which it is faced. Moreover, the Congress is soon to have the benefit of Mr. Armour's special study of conditions.3 In the circumstances, I do not believe a special representative is required for further study at this time. The causes of the dangers which have threatened the Middle East and the means of dealing with them are being given the most careful and urgent consideration by the United States Government. The firm and helpful position adopted by Iran is one of the very reassuring elements in the present situation. I continue to regard any threats to Iran's territorial integrity and political independence as a matter of the utmost gravity.4 With best wishes and warmest regard, Sincerely 1 A State Department draft of this letter is in AWF/I: Iran. Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, had written an urgent message to Eisenhower requesting more aid and a personal representative to evaluate the aid programs (Pahlavi to Eisenhower, Nov. 20, 1956, AWF/I: Iran). Despite the suggestion of the American Ambassador to Iran that a special representative be designated, Secretary Dulles had recommended against both steps (Chapin to Dulles, Nov. 22, 1956; Dulles to Eisenhower, Dec. 7, 1956, AWF/I: Iran). Dulles would, however, order the Director of the International Cooperation Administration to make a public announcement of $45 million in aid to Iran in order "to obtain the maximum poltical effect" (State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. XII, Near East Region; Iran; Iraq, pp. 859-60). 2 Eisenhower is referring to the dispute over the Soviet military occupation of parts of Iran. See Galambos, Chief of Staff, no. 809. 3 For background see no. 1774. Norman Armour, Sr., former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, was Consultant to the Senate Special Committee Studying the Mutual Security Program, a special subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He would find that the defense of Iran was "of paramount importance to the United States strategic objectives in the Middle East of maintaining free and independent prowestern governments, limiting the expansion of Communist-dominated areas and insuring Western access to strategic raw materials of the area." While Armour recognized Iran's importance to American strategy, he would have serious doubts about the ability of Iran's main development planning organization "to carry out its program and to make the most effective use of the very considerable funds available to it." Due to steadily increasing oil revenues, Armour would recommend that "leveling off and reducing funds for technical assistance would be more than fully justified," that budgetary aid should be discontinued, and that the non-military aid program in Iran should generally be "in the form of loans." Armour would support continued grants of military aid to Iran. In order to stem criticism from Iranian officials over delays in delivery of planes and in military construction, he would suggest that the Administration speed up these programs. He would oppose an increase in military aid, however, noting that "there is some doubt as to whether Iran could absorb very much of an increase in the level of military assistance over what is already being furnished" (U.S., Congress, Senate, Special Committee to Study the Foreign Aid Program, Greece, Turkey, and Iran: Report on United States Foreign Assistance Programs, committee print, 85th Cong., 1st sess., 1957, esp. pp. 8-11). 4 An earlier State Department draft had read "The firm and helpful position adopted by Iran is one of the very reassuring elements in the present situation and, for this reason, I continue to regard any threats to Iran's territorial integrity and political independence as a matter of the utmost gravity." At the American Ambassador's suggestion, and with the President's approval, the words "for this reason" were deleted from the final text (see State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. XII, Near East Region; Iran; Iraq, p. 863, n. 6). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, 10 December 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 2133. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/2133.cfm <--PREV Doc #2132  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #2134

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission 1629 K Street, NW Suite 801 Washington DC 20006 Phone: 202.296.0004    Fax: 202.296.6464