LETTER TO MR. BRIAN V. KINNEY FROM (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 7, 2013
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: January 19, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
Mr. Brian V. Kinney
Chief, Declassification and
Historical Research Branch
Records Management Division
Washington Headquarters Services
Room 1D517, Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Dear Mr. Kinney:
19 January 1982
Mr. E. E. Lowry's memorandum) of 24 November 1981 forwarded to us four
documents with the request that we review their classification status. We
have reviewed these documents with the following results:
Document No. 1, DOD Memorandum, .14 March 1951, Subject: Position
of the United States with Respect to Iran (NSC 107). We have no
objection to the declassification of this document.
Document No. 2, CIA Memorandum, 15 March 1.951, Subject.: The
Current Crisis in Iran, has been downgraded to CONFIDENTIAL, being
exempt from declassification under paragraph 1-301(c) of Executive
Order 12065. The next review date is 1989.
Document No. 3, CIA Memorandum, 15 March 1951, Subject: The
Current Crisis in Iran, has been downgraded to CONFIDENTIAL, being
exempt from declassification under paragraph 1-301(c) of Executive
Order 12065. The next review date is 1992.
Document No. 4, CIA memorandum, 2 May 1.951, Subject: Current
Developments in Iran, has been declassified.
Your copy of each document is returned to you herewith as requested, with
the addition of the CIA classification review stamp.
/, -erety_
Chie , asslilcation evlew ivLsion
Office of Information Services
Directorate of Administration
Enclosures:
1. Memo dtd 14 May 51, Subj: Position
of the United States with Respect
to Iran (NSC 107)
2. Memo dtd 15 Mar Sl, Subj: The Current.'
Crisis in Iran
3. Memo dtd 15 May 51, Subj: The Current
Crisis in Iran
4. Memo dtd 2 May 51, Subj: Current
Developments in Iran
TOP SECRET
Unclassified when
Separated from
Enclosures
Distribution:
Orig Addressee w atts
(1 - J ' sore w/DOD w atts T, 4'-
1 - Chrono w o a .s -- 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
CONFIDENTIAL
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/0_2/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
34
C3IIT R A L IIT T3LLIG3IICI: AG3IIC7
IFFIC3 OF 11r,101111, WrIlIMTES
L Loh 3.951.
S 1 h TO CUR: 3171' crisis Ill MIT
M 311CMRUUIIO 017' TIC, M S'I:
L The assassination of Premier &azmara by a rei gious
2amtia on 7 Tlu--h and t1:a ew itng period of unoertainty ax'
effect results of the agitation for nationalization of the Ar;C1oo
Ir Oil Co g th1ch has been buildLvZ up ever sime the
rjaation by the Ijlis in Darer err 1050 of a rimed conce?-
slon o i&xtt offered by the eonYperro This + .tation has be=
led by a very + na'1.1. Grcmp of ultra dyztur r the LbJUs
kw= as t h e I I a t i o m a 1 Front,. C m of its Ie s, the io t
anti-British relies ;Lin=,q Julla , vas rep rtediy iz3.?
p catsd in the assaw tion$ also by ra-1..C fa atia9 of
another high official in 1949a
2n Tension o ? the oil issues in ed aharply in the
period fist precec the a soaasix.?ation0 The ITational F of b
stepped up its dam nr s for tionalt{ tions, that
(~M
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
SEc__
issue as a club to attack Ra ra, whoss attempts to provide
strong government had run counter to its own attempts to gain
a ocitre3ling influence. The National Front reportedly
approached the British with an offer to drop the
nationali atieu issue entirely if the British would help get
rid of aazsira in favor of a mare acceptable premier. The UXD
irritated withmaraDa failure to line up support for their
positions delivered strong official warnings against any
attempts at nations iaatieacs aeaauhil?s however, indicating
to t'aza ara that t hay were willing to grant a more genorouei
concession agreement along the lines of that recent q concluded
by Saudi a.rabia and the Arabian-American Oil Ceaapany0
Raamara was persuaded to go before the ma jlis Oil Ge isei.an
with a statement prepared for him by the British emphasizing
the practical difticultioa of natienalisatie n, In his
presentation on 3 March Raiara (to the irritation of the
British) was careful to label the statement as one prepared
by technical experts rather than his awn. The statement,
hcwwv r, still brought dc+eim the wrath of the ultra=,nationalieta
upon hia and may well have famished the immediate incentive
(or pretext) for his ardor,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
OF EFAUU17-T,
iTOd ; CT~3~S
.3. The aae3anoixmtiuon prodii ed no it ediate re mans.
Tebran was quiet, with the public evidently un .
The pro-Soviet Tndeh. Part `use evidently taken by surprise.
The Shah, after briefly aorwidaring the invocation of ra*zrtiel
law, decided against such a move and oontented himself with
the d signation of an sous alder atatew ui as acting
prenior.
4, This situation, bowarver, soon changed. On tho evening
of El 14.irah the thUlis 012 Oo-uiasion# under pressure fran the
exultant ultra tionaa1i2ts, unenimmmly passed a resolution
endorsing rationalization but asking a tiao-month extension for
study of the praotiaral problem involved. On the followi
morming the pro-+8oviot elor ent went into action with an
anti-S and anti-UK deffnna tratio.n outside the US easy, vM19
in the afternoon Mull a Kashani held a moo meeting which, though
orderly, was harked by inf'lerrtory speeches denouncing the
British and Raar a. The organization responsible for the nsezrdea,
the Friends of Islari, threatened violence against other opponents
of nationalization and indicated that reprisals would be forth.
coming if the assassin were not released. Although the pro--
vincas apparently continued to be quiets and the governrint"a
control of the security forcos uaa apparently unshaken, uneasiness
in Tehran, particularly in (continued on next page)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
political cim?1e , rnDunted sh.rp y? No one appeared ca ab ie of
forcing aaa strung govern, enit agaatiwfactnry to the Sha~~h., and. most
of those who would normally have participated in such a govern-
ment were deterred !:Ty feat of p?rsonal reprisal and by the
y o.f co^i.nt- with t':~e question of nai'~ on-1 i zationG
Proclamation of martial law -ould require approval of a demora-
lized Majl.ie, while dissolution of the Majlie involved a rick
of increasing the tension? rude: the circumstances, the
Shat: apparent_;,r de^:.ded tc avoid a head-on clash with the
ultra.ynattona.iets making do wit.,,) a weak interim government
until lent: on. abaated0
5, ohe s.ltuat ozn< has clarified some at during the last
fAw dakys~ Upc-..a rejection by the Nadia on 11 March of the
S=i&,hos first i,ioice fa_' interim p:: i1er, the Shah persuaded
his widely retpe:ct.ezi Mir:it:te of Courl;, former hrabavador to
the US A.1ar., tz. a a a.ssu,,zt: the prcf6L it htp0 Ala, who has been
approved by rc.cth the Senate maid the M jlic in described as
as -)pa,.rently "c r e r- rDu:i and opti -Li t1c. m about what he regax ds as
the task of el'feeting a reconciliation among the various fac-
tions, incl.iding K hiu i; cs0 Hemwhi.le, the impending adjrurn-
r.^.e~nt of pa ns inert for the Floruy holAdaye offers a breathing
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
ri ll, > v-l it ha., b ?3n Inzp v:i3 thrt the h v beoi,
qu' ~ t1y' r O'au 6i u_D n-bare of than s . tcdiy m.YM Frir n
of T. 1,, group an-` of vhxh rLy. At the war-'D timos,
hoc d ? the un. nL- acrours Iis11ic vo i favor of th.o ari ?3ie taL~~~.: 3t
National Front group, to the px mierr'nip, There is little in.
dica.ticn that either Moo adeq or the 9nglo-Y.ranisn Oi,l. Company
are prepared to modify their rasp ctlve at.&ncia Eraffic:i+antltiy to
permit an early settle c.nt of the Thero isp,, consoqu ,n -1,
a serious danger that fcrce will be tsed by one aide or the other
to back up its; cla.i.nraa If Irauiar forces take or the oil in-
at-,Mationn, the floc of oil from Irr-a will probaUly be interpuptod,
If British troops c cup the oil area, them in a serioue dani,,Cr
of a clash botaoen Ix. r &n mr,4 B-~Iltirt, forces. Such a clash ns rht
have srrious consequ?A--c6, probably i ludirg the int _ ption of
the f1oi of oil., avid pot;*' i- ;.r.t rvc ation by Soviet foroos in
northern Iran, rt.haxrc rc, eithA- Soviet ir.terv option or th e
interruption of the fleir of o fl. cor:ld occur " a neslllt of acit -
spread de nstratior r., eab~~,tage, sand violence. The Possibility of
such a deg to nest is hest h t~ e current high vtafe of tan
sion in the counts j-0
20 liosa 3q is a ch;aavinist, n visionary, and an astute
politician, but a poor ad inistzatoro It c : be anticipated that
during his rogitna, Western influence in Iran will bb acwcrely our-
tailed, and little will be don to solve the oo nt.a y s cr:itic,al
onoale and social pnableme,. In the past, P".,ossacIeq hin etros g1y
opposed r nifesta tionc of foraign inf]uema i n r I,, He A-1-11
alin st certain2.. adopt a neutralist policy.) the East-1,1613t
e u la, In inter .z r.ffaira he hae; ac ocathd social benef'i.,;.s for
the people :d opp red I easura+a disi ned to restrict freedom of
spo h, assenbl r, and the press. Politically, he h urged teat
the Shah be stri :,d of power and that the Mj1i.r bcc o; a the e'orauant
f for in the vat c a',, However, hg does not belie *e that the
present -embers of the Sajlle tru)y repreeeant the inter is of the
Iranian people and =T 4vocrtt dissolution of the Majlin and new
elections under a re oz' u ste;a of voting,,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
3o }ioss&deq is s,..t pr -oiit ? a. ct:oo,jg pQ:u: ticTa pond
tiafp despite the f?:at thy- he hap fTaa
the M . jlis or in the tr?xditionaal rul ?;zg cl. r:3 #t a 'hoie n i d
that, he is die. kzd anr-, diatra::ated by the SSbahl0 17r:.liku his pr :--
d co ors, he is not c a :;cx.,? o.r tlz,-) Shah's favor or or fa uAiont .
polit as in the Mat jlle. Ha h , i eomi to power as the to adera of &
national movement which has axou d 'nte.:. o popra ar ?vpc~r~t, This
circumstance has c ascc : th?-, M&juir to norr inete him to the Shith and
con fled the Shah to ac-)paint hi r to off1 ce Fanlpx,,ntally his
tr deriv,c f_x, and is in dir- ct t~3, Vie dnturn
city of feel ng agri.nst the British over t. oil isr ue d, ),lthcuugh
other critical probl o will plague his adrr.t ni e tr?:at .a n, tb ,, are
not likely- to c aau ws his da i i .f &l l so long ac he o:U c cisis r e
= a ba*rntnn ivraa:;:, In his carpal c;i age nzt the AIOC,, I to c1 q
has the support not on ;- of his Natier zl Fro- t a'rour but al sex of
the pow-. Islam (the xsall trarrori;;t group of ralit;iou%c artiF C
`ado ver a r&?;puricib1 fci' R ar l a ~ ~ : c w a~sti;icrx) the 4 ,.1c rgpl
Taxdah (CUr :saiist) F'ar{:y., w id probably the great mixjo it of . n
labore:r s, trst~e ~ a g A; -d ctadmts, Who car. Signif$.:c :.:..t! aaffa ct
political ds'ir6lop ants lx. l:rtla tttrvug'. a trilu sg r n~ ,x? .tiorua9
and viola =e.
4. Beaman of the wide saspp:art for Mosa:: a dcc v r3 chau.vi.niati.
cramade, fey- Irxrtia3.n laa:der?, drr tar ,ppose hirv, p~.bliclr. His irnc,
fln ca in th:c P-1jl.i_g r s largvliy. mr, ,na,iblo for HArn ~s fa.iiuurre
to obtain a rsvf ,d: AbCC a ^c er t and l.o a front the "1 z ~? k => a i Z
Bank and the I3,PJ)a h cnd3n . tho of =:xx?a an thb
ode that the Ir t tzar was t .,.it+oom,;;aiy .rn ent in hit: n g.st.i.a.tio
with tho AI0C, Fincl11s he pa,:?ahq;; t i oil national.izat:tou bille,
throug the Najl3 e >s Est the riche,:; of the 9'h:h e;.ad Pri.r-a3 ,? i.aist:
Alm0 Many of has Hp jl iar de,:Qtiov vc .ot for the
against their beats. ; dgmz.1t, uuc.utcbing to the a ation&Us2 of
Xoos q?a app3r . or fvrrinc the cone;i ?z^e (irr~luding ;ka mr ,=
ti.ou) of oppo as1ng t"I s ri e,as+j..-m{,
5,, During the ci:i x eics iecmn f tso-eixa Aln. r-aas Prim) Iiiaxiister,
No q war, ca fir n of the M&jlia Oil Co. itheion poiaa;. t
draw up r so dationa Ror? tkk: ov az the LI
i ShtD the Pririe Minister, and rLidorate rre:;ibsrs of the j
probably hope that c :.Id be pr f Cori up w th tho
OC ore Maaswmdao co-Old corplota his x?kc Aaos sm~,; hot;.:rvor9
report to the Mjli more than a w ,nth head of rse.' oda9lc; z, In
creased bitt nee toy;aid the UK r'est:l.ting fro ttxs intaa vwE ng
mikes sod violence In the oil field area kept onions high through-
out the country and SLT)Ltfied Mos8:f'.eg9a job in of i.m.3rsg pr t
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
i Y 1Z...iW'{C 3'1~3.'i~i Y3E! pion 0 i.'18~0
6o AJ.tr to r d P~:!"`~tr"}f; r3~21t.'~'AC of of. 1r T'S +.. nom; 9J't
rn 1. for h.-",,,: a J6 ":~3?' ~:t l iru ~Saf:; TA' :? sg~, t'gS''C,e: l"e ?
c gova4*.,mm3i.t c!`l=-mitt''_9.^. of E'-~?_(; to V" . l1 t3 ?o tr Cdr.
~^]'i''a..~:Zl pro-
p'GraS" R'1.es iJ.x:ti.l eX?. ~,,a e e
vide; for eett:?rtg s i(icy 2:51 pe Lv-at of oil M.Fc ;tz_a'~ -A) r t ft t:a:m"
cIr + of the c' for17HC.r curb; ?a;y-,, Th irr, lho
tE?nt &C as u , in, "(-.; on
tin yI s t+.' : pt to it , t A . ti t,~zc .~? W e.lsr-i11 th
final 113-'itish oal.t4c'2. FFl? vcr? a hell. a dn.'_gcr Or- st?c critic
c O . e T n ` a rat r; in te r . t ~i1'~ r?~a eit s r p ry an(. p I r 1y t ?o
I .tick.,, have im. i. ied their ret tiiv pr'sitio to
pei t initiatl.on of &srio a rvs et.?,.&tio o
". 3 o
SEC I0.2-.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
8o The prGscnt= irp.ts3e in t"16 oi.l sit ati.o to ,y le.-d tr.~
a one of the foUew-1ng critical si.'i iatior z
(a) Piosgac.eq is com:.ittod to a policy of eapr prin.
tiong, On the basis of his par=t acti. ,ns it is a -trrcrrrly unlikely
that he will accept ai thi ~;= ? es?, t, am effoc a:iv-3 Iranian con.,
treal of the oil it~.c3ns1.~, ?o Conseque , ~, if the~rc is no earn!,
relaxation of the British positirn, lit wi?..l probrh],y attest
to aa5(3 ford to t,-}-n r?r-^r. : m ezl i~a tc i ~ti:a3Y^ at Vao X-10-
of closing do : ths wf;ola :i!xLdstl ?,
('b) The. iuK mi 1 t send it tz,)opr. into the oil field
area to forest.. .. or 00'jnt. r o cctpr.$'.on of tho oil inst Ilat:' o--.z
by Iranian forcot9 or to saroguand B.r . t h lien and pr?opart1y in.
the c Tent of fhr~t hor v oler :,f) 0-(. eat;?i ge Such a mo-ve rni?h?b lead
to b tc n Britirh and Tr r rt . forcc^ w:itt?
serious conseWtarxsz, probbib ,y rclndin; er, 7of ?r
flaw of oil, Although the Sbx h, who will prcb bly r eta r, of . c o Uvm
control over Iran?s arrt9id farces, would be raluct nt to use thosa
forces agkinst tha BA, -ti&t;, h : wculd probkbl3., too ^o.np olTed to
acquiesce in thoir uss in the oil g a if Mo?saciaq derandzd its
The occupaction of aoutbern Iran by 3ritiah trc'ops would ala0 fur.
nish the USSR with a prstlaxt to tend t:r cops irat nortbern Iraauo
(o) Anti rit1.gh feielir;g w_ll continue at a high piitrb
mid Via danger of dz:cnstra,S:,-$.ons and viclez ctea will cony tea
1oss;adaq has consist9 fitly otT,csac3 ,ial liar and raetw ictios:s
on the f dom of t;p? oe-a, r :!ambly, rind the pzres ,, tie of hip
first acts in office was to rc x^: it bn~ on o?Iy Day d norintratioru
in Tahrau, and r art,ill lei ti - soon be liff d in the Abadan Frees
He also legalize the ae atas of ttae Tuc h pri 4y. ' "hcsre i.st a
djmCcr that the Tu.::, park, i y a.tt' pt to trd e advnnt,ago of Mos-31-
dagr e leniency in this, re `sect to fort dieLaIrwa,ic a th ug lout
the country. In. Yiev of the t? n , ion and gen3r l unreet in tthQ
country., Tudah aetiwity might xzxl.ou~sly under in intarnt i & niri y0
(d) If No daq takes over the oil installations by
force, he will undoubtedly seek foreign asaivt&rr ; in oparati ng
tho ol7, irichi ,try , A _nnslkaar* of US oil. cc:.pau .c a hrvc elreac; &1 i
some interest in tho ssi t3.cr,, and Mostaasde q ni!at well be able to
perasu some cc parry to operate in Iran on }i tert The rep
cm viona of such a da-vsl.ops; iNi:3i2 8-xgpa)~6 f om h:'.m while '" ,:3ion over -.hc
oil i3;rue remt. ,'~T-3 hig'a? 2?u>usa..de(4 i.c more ).i: Ly t, fo Fe , tk,n oil
ism.e by a:r er;~z action t+hha:"?. porf,-j. t h=.r 3e9 f' t,-7 h. un-le.mI-riod by
the' Shah arid t~ E. 'MaAlis on o her iswle'1 i~, 'tly refo r
unli.kc.y V"G." C-r t;C Q''~?`: .'.~, `i":I. C~e:?.T"_= ti '~'.7~ L'? t n.,.,' ?~,
F-,=cpt by viol -jrcc :)r b j- th*) ear t; at,? i.r~?'sa>zt t; .u. r d,'~ :: a.: .; ed ? :sc:'
YW.h o it 'S.:c.' a cc'1rvo j f a t i on wouldi-
'.xiVo1 v r~. aks 'I5.a_h the Shah hs-:3 F h(rat1 no imiie,-,I;i on he wo-O f3 b:3
ng to t.mkoo
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF, CLASSIFICATION REVIEW DIVISION, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
SUBJECT: Request for Declassification Review
During the systematic review of all classified Office of the Secretary
of Defense (OSD) documents over 20 years old, the Declassification and
Historical Research Branch, Records Management Division, Directorate for
Correspondence and Directives, Washington Headquarters Services, turned
up the attached document(s).
The documents were either originated by your agency, contain information
for which your agency is the classification authority, or are otherwise
of interest to you.
It is therefore requ._:sted that your agency review the documents and
recommend declassification, continued classification at the present or
lesser level of classification, and/or review by other agencies. If your
agency is recommending continued classification, in accordance with Para-
graph 3-401, Executive Order. 12065, it is requested that an authority for
continued classification be specified, along with a date for the next review.
The time permitted by Executive Order 12065 t.o reach the point where all
OSD documents over 20 years old have been reviewed, and the large volume
of over 20 year old OSD documents, make it necessary to request your res-
ponse within 60 days. In your response, you may wish to provide guidance
with regard to what categories of information you do and do not wish to
have referred to you in the future.
Your assistance in effecting this review will be most appreciated. Please
return the documents to Mr. Brian V. Kinney, Chief, Declassification and
Historical Research Branch, Records Management Division, Washington Head-
quarters Services, Room 1.D517, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301, upon
completion of your review.
Without attachments, this memorandum is UNCLASSIFIED.
E. h. Lowry, ., Jr~J
OSD Records Administrator
Attachments (4)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3
1. Memo, Mar 14, 51, Subj: Position of the United States with Respect to
Iran (NSC 107) (TS)
2. Paper, 15 Mar 51, Subj: The Current Crisis in Iran (S)
3. Paper, 15 Mar 51, Subj: The Current Crisis in Iran (S)
4. Memo, 2 May 51, Subj: Current Developments in Iran/w 1 Attachment--
Report, Undated, Subj: As Above (S)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/07: CIA-RDP85B00236R000200190019-3