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Notes on
US/Iranian Foreign Policy 1964
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In 1964 Iran was
emerging from a recession that weakened the Pahlavi
Government. Oil revenues were up and there was a definate
promise of steady increase in Oil revenue. -1-
Unfortunately the Shah was a weak man more concerned with
military toys and playing soldier than caring for his
people. -2- Pahlavi was no longer to
make a plausable case for a Soviet threat so he argued
endlessly that there was an Arab threat.
- By January 1964 the financial presure of Vietnam
began to affect our commitment to military
assistance tito Iran . FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- 882. Ayatollah Khomeini, at first imprisoned and
later under house detention in connection 1963
Moharam riots and widely regarded as leading
contender for position of Shia paramount leader,
was released April 5 and returned to religious
center of Qom. Press giving minimum play. [less
than 1 line of source text not declassified]
reports (1) millahs flocking to Qom from all over
Iran to "kiss hands", and (2) one tank
battalion concentrated Qom outskirts as
precautionary measure. No info whether Khomeini
reached agreement with govt regarding any
restriction on his future activities. Embassy
[less than 1 line of source text not
declassified] contacts with good connections in
religious community view release as victory for
Khomeini but also as wise policy decision by
regime in preparation for Moharam, period of deep
mourning starting May 13. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- Memorandum From Commander John J. Shanahan to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff (Max Taylor). Washington, April 11,
1964. The Shah states that the situation in the
Middle East has deteriorated since November. He
cites:
- (1) Pak-Indian relations.
(2) Turkey-Greece problem.
(3) UK withdrawal from bases in Malta and
Cyprus.
(4) Bases in Libya are threatened.
(5) Recent strengthening of Arab unity.
(6) Forecast Arab aggression against
Israel in 2 or 3 years.
- b. The Shah expressed hope that the April
meetings in Washington would make useful
progress; felt CENTO was not
accomplishing much in a military way
because of Pak attitude and US not being
a member. Gen. Adams expressed confidence
that meetings would be productive and US
interest was intense in seeing that CENTO
succeeds.
- c. Shah stated Iran has more to fear from
Soviet-supported Arabs than from Soviets.
- d. -1- Shah described
Iran's future as bright because of
current development of vast resources,
and the social and economic reforms that
are being implemented. He estimated the
country's income from oil by 1970 would
reach $1,200 million annually.
Accordingly, Iran, the Shah pointed out,
should play an increasingly important
role in US strategic planning.
- e. The Shah expressed his dissatisfaction
with the state of his military defenses.
(I suggest that up to
this point it was all a build-up.)
- April 15 1964 Ayatollah Khomeini delivers speach
critical of the Shah which causes worry since he
was just relleased from custody. Ayatollah
Khomeini charged the Shah was , "giving away
our resources to foreigners". He was also
calling for a constitution form of government. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- 1964 "Congo. The United States sent four
transport planes to provide airlift for Congolese
troops during a rebellion and to transport
Belgian paratroopers to rescue foreigners." Use
of U.S. Forces Abroad.
- 1964-73 "Vietnam War. U.S. military advisers
had been in South Vietnam a decade, and their
numbers had been increased as the military
position the Saigon government became weaker.
After the attacks on U.S. destroyers in the
Tonkin Gulf, President Johnson asked for a
resolution expressing U.S. determination to
support freedom and protect peace in Southeast
Asia. Congress responded with the Tonkin Gulf
Resolution, expressing support for "all
necessary measures" the President might take
to repel armed attacks against U.S. forces and
prevent further aggression. Following this
resolution, and following a Communist attack on a
U.S. installation in central Vietnam, the United
States escalated its participation in the war to
a peak of 543 000 in April 1969." Use
of U.S. Forces Abroad.
- By January 1964 the financial preure of Vietnam
began to affect our commitment to military
assistance tito Iran . FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- 882. Ayatollah Khomeini, at first imprisoned and
later under house detention in connection 1963
Moharam riots and widely regarded as leading
contender for position of Shia paramount leader,
was released April 5 and returned to religious
center of Qom. Press giving minimum play. [less
than 1 line of source text not declassified]
reports (1) millahs flocking to Qom from all over
Iran to "kiss hands", and (2) one tank
battalion concentrated Qom outskirts as
precautionary measure. No info whether Khomeini
reached agreement with govt regarding any
restriction on his future activities. Embassy
[less than 1 line of source text not
declassified] contacts with good connections in
religious community view release as victory for
Khomeini but also as wise policy decision by
regime in preparation for Moharam, period of deep
mourning starting May 13. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- Memorandum From Commander John J. Shanahan to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff (Max Taylor). Washington, April 11,
1964. The Shah states that the situation in the
Middle East has deteriorated since November. He
cites:
(1) Pak-Indian relations.
(2) Turkey-Greece problem.
(3) UK withdrawal from bases in Malta and Cyprus.
(4) Bases in Libya are threatened.
(5) Recent strengthening of Arab unity.
(6) Forecast Arab aggression against Israel in 2
or 3 years.
- April 15 1964 Ayatollah Khomeini delivers speach
critical of the Shah which causes worry since he
was just relleased from custody. Ayatollah
Khomeini charged the Shah was , "giving away
our resources to foreigners". He was also
calling for a constitution form of government. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- Washington, May 13, 1964. Bowling at State
requests deportation of anti-Shah students who
are planing anti-Shah rally at UCLA when Pahlavi
was slated to speak there. Bowling cited
"personal friendships between anti-Shah
leadersand prominent Americans, such as Justice
Douglas," as reason to deport the aniti-shah
leaders. "The immediate pressing of
deportation proceedings against Ali Shayegan (see
Tab A),/2/ who falsely stated in his visa
application that he had never been a member of a
communist organization, would appear to be
perfectly tailored for the present situation.
There is no basis for pity for Shayegan. He
informed an NEA officer personally less than a
year ago that he intended to dedicate the
remainder of his life to the destruction of the
Shah. You may remember him as being the most
fanatical and anti-Western member of Mosadeq's
last cabinet, except for Foreign Minister Fatemi,
who was executed." FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- National Intelligence
Estimate - Iran, May 1964
- Letter From the Ambassador to Iran (Julius
Holmes) to Secretary of State Rusk
- Tehran, May 20, 1964.
A seldom discussed but vital element in
our relationship with Iran is the
agreement of the Shah which
permits us to continue a series of U.S.
technical intelligence operations in
various parts of Iran. For
the most part, the nature of many of
these activities is such that they cannot
be concealed from the
public, and it is only through the Shah's
approval, and in certain instances
through direct Iranian
participation, that we are able to
continue these activities.
- More specifically, the activities include:
- a) The establishment and maintenance of [2-1/2
lines of source text not declassified]. These
activities require the presence of upwards of
[less than 1 line of source text not
declassified] civilian and service personnel,
plus dependents.
- b) The establishment and maintenance of [1 line
of source text not declassified] facilities.
- c) The Customs-free importation of technical and
other logistic support required for the above
activities.
- d) The Shah has also given personal approval for
[less than 1 line of source text not
declassified] intelligence [less than 1 line of
source text not declassified] operations [3 lines
of source text not declassified].
- I should rather not specify the precise
objectives or results obtained from these
activities which, I am told, are of critical
value to us. However, John McCone could inform
you of how important they are to our national
security. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)
- -2- Though we've kept telling
the Shah that his real problems are internal not
external, and that reform is first on the agenda,
he keeps reverting to the military toys he loves.
We've convinced him there isn't much chance of
Soviet attack, so now he's talking up an Arab
threat as his excuse. Memorandum From Robert W.
Komer of the National Security Council Staff to
President Johnson Washington, June 4, 1964. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (d)
- Department of State, NEA/IRN Files: Lot 69 D 178,
Iran, 19-4-a, Five-Year Agreement, 1965-69.
Secret. Drafted by Walsh.
- SUBJECT Military Modernization
Discussions with the Shah of Iran
- PARTICIPANTS The Shah of Iran - Defense
and State
The atmosphere was friendly. The Shah had
just arrived some minutes before from Los
Angeles. He appeared tired and somewhat
melancholy. One had the impression that
the demonstrations in Los Angeles had
depressed him. There was a huge crowd in
front of the Waldorf. According to the
police, it was entirely friendly with no
demonstrators present. Nevertheless, the
fact that he had once again been
confronted with a large crowd may have
recalled to his mind some of his
irritation about what happened in Los
Angeles. At one stage in the discussion,
the Shah said that he was subject to what
one might call an international
conspiracy led by the communists with the
active assistance of Nasser and the
Arabs. In one demonstration in Los
Angeles, according to the Shah, there
were only six Iranians and the other
demonstrators seemed to have been
American communists and Arab students. He
spoke with manifest irritation about an
incident in Los Angeles; apparently a
plane flew over the ceremony at UCLA
carrying a banner that said "If you
want a fix, see the Shah." He said
he asked people "What is a
fix?" and they told him it was
heroin. He said with bitterness that this
smearing attack was made against him
despite his efforts to kill off this
dirty drug. If I am involved in heroin,
he added, one should say that I am a
terribly poor salesman and that I am
working against my "sales
interest." Memorandum of
Conversation John Patrick Walsh, NEA/NR
State, New York, June 12, 1964. (Major
General George, Eckhardt, Chief
MAAG/Tehran, Colonel W.B. Taylor,
DOD/ISA, Colonel Ray W. Hodgson, DOD/ILN
nad Pahlavi) FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (d)
- June 16, 1964 "Need a
fix? See the Shah"
-
- The Mansur Government appears to be a definite
improvement over its predecessor, both in respect
to the leadership provided by the Prime Minister
and in respect to substantive administrative
improvements. The Parliament has not increased in
political importance. The reform program has made
no particular progress. The New Iran Party is
displaying some forward movement and seems to
become an asset to the regime. The opposition's
capacity for making trouble has probably further
declined, and this is also true of the mullahs.
Some minor changes have occurred in the
"pecking order", but the Shah of course
still determines everyone's status. The tribal
situation is definitely better in the south, and
under control in the west. Airgram From the
Embassy in Iran to the Department of State, A-60
Tehran, August 6, 1964. Source: Department of
State, Central Files, POL 7 IRAN. Confidential.
Drafted by Eliot; coordinated with [text not
declassified], First Secretary John A. Armitage;
and approved by Rockwell. Repeated to Ankara,
Baghdad, Cairo, Dhahran, Jidda, Kabul, Karachi,
Kuwait, London, Moscow, Paris, and CINCMEAFSA for
POLAD. SUBJECT Semi-Annual Assessment of the
Political Situation in Iran FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (f)
-
- Tehran, October 13, 1964, The Majlis granted
Diplomatic Imunity to all American Service
personel in Iran.Telegram From the Embassy in
Iran to the Department of State, Tehran, October
14, 1964, 8 p.m. where. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (f)
-
- Telegram From the Embassy in Iran to the
Department of State/1/
- Tehran, November 4, 1964, 4 p.m.
- /1/Source: Department of State, Central
Files, POL 23-9 IRAN. Confidential;
Priority. Repeated to Ankara, Baghdad,
CINCMEAFSA for POLAD, Jidda, Karachi, and
Kuwait.
- 508. Embtel 278./2/ Reliably reported
that Ayatollah Khomeini, dissident
religious leader, was arrested in Qom
yesterday, brought to Tehran, and taken
across the border to exile in Turkey. As
reported NIT-6560, Khomeini clearly
over-stepped bounds when, in connection
with criticism of the Status Bill
according immunities to U.S. military
advisors, he not only attacked approval
of bill by Majlis as disgraceful,
illegal, and "against Islam and the
Koran" but also called for overthrow
of the govt by the Imperial Iranian
Army./3/ [less than 1 line of source text
not declassified] Part of Tehran bazaar
closed down, but city quiet. Tehran radio
announced exile today without specifying
where. FRUS
1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (f)
- Gudarzian Case
-
-
-
- Prince Mahmud Reza's
difficulties with Gudarzian
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