Rllproduced from the Unclassified I Declassified Holdings of the National Archives J -'JMING TEtEGRAM r--- - - - - --- - DECLASSIFIED 'Department of State Authority NNl 3 j f 1 1 TOP SECREI' SECURITY INFORMATION 19-H __ w M- 4976 17 1953 7 14 a m Action ss FROMr Info TO NOr Controh Rec'do August Baghdad Secretary or State 92 Auguet 17 7 a m STATB DBPT DECLASSIFICA'OON BIMBW r ciT dass'n r'fy Chanae duaify IQ - a -with oonc urrence o f _ ____________ a r C A eate Lj- lO- f Cf PRIORI'n SENT DEPARTMENT PRIORITY 92 REPEATED INFORMATION TEijRAN 2 FOR UNDER SECREn'ARY - NO REPEAT NO DISTRIBUTION Shah of Iran expressed to Iraqi Government desire to meet me In-order to provide Department with first hand account of recent Iranian events as Shah sees them and recalling his basic prow stern attitude and Department's policy of supporting him I called quietly at 9 30 last evening at Iraqi official guest house where he is staying I found Shah worn from three sleepless nights puzzled by turn of events but with no repeat no bitter- ness toward Americans who had urged and planned action I aug- gested for his prestige in Iran he never indicate that any roreigner had had a part in recent events He agreed Shah stated that in recent weeks he had felt increasingly that he would have to take action against Mosadeq as the latter be- came bolder in flaunting Iranian Constitution Therefore when - a fortnight ago it was suggested that he sponsor a military coup he accepted the idea However in giving it more thought he de- cided that such action as he took must be within the framework 1 of his constitutional power hence not repeat not a cou Thus after consultation witQ an Amer can not repeat not an official of the State DepartmeQt decided to appoint General Zahedi as Prime Minister in place of Mosadeq After being assured that everything was arranged and that there was no repeat no possibility of failure he left Tehran for his Caspian Palace in order to put Mosadeq off guard and from there three days ago sent letter of appointment of General Zahedi to Tehran with a trusted Iranian Colonel The letter was delivered to General Zahedi and he was to choose the timing and method for informing Mosadeq The Shah expected action would take place that very day But no repeat no action took place apparently because message arrived too late in day and no repeat no action took place the following day apparently because it was a holiday On the third day Mosadeq by some means had been alerted and had had the time to take successful countermeasures so that when the Colonel arrived at Mosadeq's house he was himself arrested This morning PERMANENT RECORD COPY TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMA ION REPRODUCTION FROM THIS COPY IF CLASSIFIED IS o This copy must be returned to DC R central files with notation of action taken OHIBITED o 111-117388-1 GPO ------ - - -- -DECLASSIFIED Reproduced from the Unclassified I Declassified Holdings of the National Archives TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION -2- Authority NNJ 3 ' Cf 'Jt #92 August 17 7 a m from Baghdad This morning the Shah left this Caspian Palace in a beachcraft witn a pilot one Palace official and his Que n and landed in Baghdad at 10 15 King Faisal returned from Jordan at 11 00 This afternoon the Shah called upon King Faisal and King Faisal returned the call offering hospitality but lacking the supporting presence of nis uncle wno is in Cairo seeming somewhat overpowered by events The Shan said that he will have to issue a ste tement very soon and possibly tomorrow He needs however to be informed of the situation in Tehran and to have advice from his American friend He will trY to hold off giving out a statement until he gets advice but the pressure to issue is great and mounting He is thinking of saying in 'his statement that three days ago be dis issed Prime Minister Mosadeq and appointed General Zabedi as Prime Minister taking his action because Masadeq had continually violated the constitution As he himself had aworn upon ascending the throne to respect and uphold the constitution he had no repeat no choice but to remove the Prime Minister of a government acting unconstitutionally When it was apparnt that his orders were not repeat not being followed be left the country to prevent bloodshed and further damage He is ready to return when be can serve the Iranian people and in the meantiwe prays for the independence and safety of Iran and that all true Iranians will never allow their country to fall under the control of the illegal Tudeh Party The Shah said that be is utterly at loss to understand why the plan failed Trusted Palace officials were completely sure of its succeeding The American friend was absolutely confident of its success When he had said to the American if it should fail what should he do the Ame ican scouted the possibility of failure adding when pre ssed that the Shah should go to Baghdad The Shah said that is why he came to Baghdad when the plan miscarried Now he needs information and advice upon his next move He said that he thought that he should not repeat not stay here more than a few days but would then go to Europe and he hoped eventually to America He added he would be looking for work shortly as he has a large family and very small means outside of Iran I tried to boost his morale by saying that I hoped that soon be would return to reign over his people for whom he has done so much but he replied that Mosadeq as absolutely mad and insanely jealous like a tiger who springs upon any living thing-that it sees moving above him Shah believes Mosadeq thinks be can form a partnership with the Tudeh Party and then outwit it but in so doing Mosadeq will become the Dr Benes of Iran BERRY SW HMR 12 TOP SECRE r SECURITY INFORMai LION Reproduced from the Unclassified I Declassified Holdings of the National Archives DECLASSIFIED Authority NN lJ TS U3T BAGHDAD X NCO MXl G X ro ' '' --tu o t T Ji _ --A tl 'h 5J ol' imt 4976 - - - - J o and 21 in envelope second drawer - 3 ' Cf 1 t _ i'L _ - _ _'I'- - DECLASSIFIED Authority NNjJ 3 f 1 1 TOP SECRET SEGUR ITY INFORMATION To be cot1sidered UNCLASSIFIED upon removal of n JU ' - TI V I ' - _ __ _ __ PostG12 -- rol rM- 3_ Serial No 0 Date Control No s opy Number I 1-19'7 -- Distribution Summary Set s s R ---------------------------------------------- -------- ------ Lourie Stassen Policy Files Set Hennes ------------------------- R 2 I Defense 8 or 5 CIA or 1 CIA-P 1 --------------- ---- -- -- FILED A4_ t rQ SECR URITY BURNiED TOP INFORMAT ON To be considered UNCLASSIFIED upon removal of attachment This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu