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Iran - Airgram/Reports from U.S. Embassy Tehran to State Dept., 12/21/1963-08/01/1967

 File — Box: 1a, Folder: 22
Identifier: 42738

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This is the second acquisition of the Martin F. Herz Papers (see finding aid by Margaret H. McAleer, February 1984, for first acquisition).

Material includes congratulatory correspondence to Ambassador Herz on his appointment as U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria (1974-77); a large series of lectures (including research notes and speech outlines) given as the director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University (1978-83).

A most remarkable part of the collection consists of the progaganda leaflets used by the Allies against the Axis powers, Germany and Italy as part of the psychological warfare campaign launched by the U.S. War Department during the Second World War. The leaflets in this collection were all written by Herz.

Certificates for his Purple Heart and Bronze Star are included in this collection (Folders 2:41 and 2:42). Some of his cables to the State Department from his time in the foreign service in Iran are included in this collection (Folder 1:22).

In 1978, Ambassador Herz joined Georgetown University as director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. He taught many courses on the Cold War and modern diplomacy. His research, notes, and outlines for many of his lectures comprise part of this collection (Folders 3:13-3:50).

The manuscripts and working files containing correspondence with contributors and publishers for several of his books are included in this collection: The Golden Ladle (1945; A Short History of Cambodia from the Days of Angkor to the Present (1958); Beginnings of the Cold War (1966); David Bruce's 'Long Telegram' of July 3, 1951 (1978); Decline of the West? George Kennan and his Critics, ed. by Herz (1978); How the Cold War is Taught: Six American History Books Examined (1978); A View from Tehran: A Diplomatist Looks at the Shah's Regime (1979); Contacts with the Opposition: A Symposium, ed. by Herz (1979); The Prestige Press and the Christmas Bombing, 1972: Images and Reality in Vietnam (1980); 215 Days in the Life of an American Ambassador (1981), about his experiences in Bulgaria; Diplomacy: The Role of the Wife: A Symposium in which are expressed the views of 25 experts... ed. by Herz (1981); The Role of Embassies in Promoting Business: A Symposium, ed. by Herz (1981); Diplomats and Terrorists: What Works, What Doesn't, ed. by Herz (1982); The Consular Dimension of Diplomacy: A Symposium, ed. by Herz (1983); The Vietnam War in Retrospect: Four Lectures (1983); The Modern Ambassador: The Challenge and the Search, ed. by Herz (1983); Understanding Austria: The Political Reports and Analyses of Martin F. Herz, Political Officer of the U.S. Legation in Vienna, 1945-48, ed. by Reinhold Wagnleitner (1984).

Ambassador Herz also contributed innumerable articles to the Foreign Service Journal, Public Opinion Quarterly, Encounter, and Commentary. Manuscripts and proof copies of many of the articles are included in the collection.

Abbreviations used in this finding aid include: ACS - autograph card signed; ALS - autograph letter signed; ANS - autograph note signed; b/w black and white photograph; TL - typed letter; TLS - typed letter signed; TMss - typed manuscripts; TNS - typed note signed; MSS - manuscripts.

Dates

  • 12/21/1963-08/01/1967

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 8.75 Linear Feet (10 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Container Summary

Contains State Dept. "airgrams"/reports from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran concerning the political situation in Iran. Report subjects as follows with author (primarily MFH) noted. (The first lines of each report summary are also given.) @ Subject: The Iranian Intellectual Community: Structure, Patterns, Problems, and Recommendations for U.S. Actions. Date: 12/21/63 Author: Stuart W. Rockwell, charge d'affaires, a.i. Summary: One of the most eciting political problems of Iran today is how to bring the younger lements of the intelligentsia into closer harmony with the regime... @ Subject: Some Intangible Factors in Iranian Politics. Date: 6/15/64 Author: Martin F. Herz, counselor of embassy for political affairs Summary: In terms of the power relations of its internal forces, Iran is a remarkably stable country. The Shah is in firm control, and he has managed to created an aura of reform which ahs benefited his regime both at home and abroad. The present airgram does not deal with power factors but with the intangibles of the situation, examining critically both the strengths and the weaknesses... @ Subject: Lessons from the Status Bill Fiasco Author: Martin F. Herz Date: 12/10/64 Summary: The recent uproar over the bill according certain immunities to American military personnel in Iran has brought about a deterioration in the position of the Mansur Government and in the image of the United States in Iran. There is still a widespread and unjustified feeling that the bill conveyed privileges similar to the capitulations of the Treaty of Tukomanchai. The episode has well illustrated how Iranian public opinion operates; but it is doubtful that the Government has assimilated the lesson. @ Subject: Iranian policy Toward the United Arab Kingdom Author: Martin F. Herz Date: 1/16/65 Summary: The Shah's concern over Nasser's ambitions in areas contiguous to Iran is real. It may be exaggerated, but it is not unfounded. The Shah does not claim that Nasser represents an immediate military threat but he feels that current trends, unless checked, will bring the military power of Arab irredentism increasingly to Iran's doorstep; and Iran's Khuzistan, which furnishes 75 per cent of Iran's foreign exchange earnings, is vulnerable to Arab irrenditist propaganda... @ Subject: The Current Reorientation of Iran's Military Procurement - A Summary Record of U.S. Efforts to Create a New Relationship. Author: Meyer Date: 8/15/66 Summary: Political, economic, and military factors combined to created a near-crisis in U.S.-Iran relations as the Shah has attempted to bargain with the U.S., lessen his dependence on us, and diversify his military procurement - and in so doing moved in the direction of inviting a significant Soviet military intrusion into the arms supply picture... @ Subject: Semi-annual Assessment of the Political Situation in Iran Author: Meyer Date: 8/1/67 Summary: In comparing the situation as of August 1 with that of six months ago, we find that most trends are up... @ Other items in the file include the following general intelligence information - @ Educational Background of Member of the iranian Cabinet (list) @ Noteworthy Iranian Anniversaries (list) @ Shah's brothers and sisters (list) @ Check-Sheet of Tehran Newspapers and Magazines @ A Layman's Guide to P.L. 480, 83d Congress (enacted in 1954) re sale or gift of commodities with reference to Iran. @ 1 TL copy from William Crockett to Julius C. Holmes, U.S. ambassador to Iran, January 1965: "Many thanks for your letter of December 2, 1956. I am indeed impressed by the "Policy and Program Summary" that you enclosed. This prodigious effort by you and your staff aims at meeting the same need for a management tool in foreign affairs that the Comprehensive Country Programming System was designed to meet and it meets it very well..."

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

IRAN - REPORTS (U.S. EMBASSY TO STATE DEPT.) 1963-67: Typescript

HERZ, MARTIN F. - IRAN, REPORTS ON (1963-67): Typescript

IRAN, INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY OF - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1963: Typescript

IRAN, POLITICS - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1964: Typescript

IRAN, U.S. MILITARY IMMUNITY IN - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1964: Typescript

IRAN, UNITED ARAB KINGDOM POLICY - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1965: Typescript

IRAN, MILITARY PROCUREMENT REORIENTATION - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1966: Typescript

IRAN, POLITICAL SITUATION - REPORT (STATE DEPT.) 1967: Typescript

IRAN, CABINET EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND - LIST: Typescript

IRAN, ANNIVERSARIES/CELEBRATIONS: Typescript

IRAN, TEHRAN NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES - LIST: Typescript

HOLMES, JULIUS C. - CORRES. FROM CROCKETT, WILLIAM 1965 (COPY): Typed Letter Signed

CROCKETT, WILLIAM - CORRES. TO HOLMES, JULIUS C. 1965 (COPY): Typed Letter Signed

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

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