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      cannot at present abandon for the western frontier of India and 
      the eastern frontier of Iraq. Apart from this we have the same 
      wartime interest as the United States in the safety of the trans-Persian 
      supply route to Russia. For all these reasons we want a strong 
      and friendly Government in Persia, and have no wish to see the 
      establishment of foreign "zones of "influence". 
      In short, we are certainly no less interested than the United 
      States in encouraging Persian independence, political efficiency 
                       and national reform.                 
 
                                                            
 
 
I agree with what you say about Persia's need for outside 
      assistance. Whether she would welcome the principle of international 
      trusteeship seems open to doubt. It sounds rather like the mandatory 
      system. I think that our best way of helping the Persians is 
      through the American advisers. Dr. Millspaugh and his colleagues 
      have undertaken a very necessary but a long, arduous and thankless 
      task. We are giving them, and intend to continue giving them, 
      all the help in our power, as we have since made clear in our 
             discussions with the Stettinius Mission.       
 
                                                            
 
 
I assume that you have had no reply from Stalin to your suggestion 
      for a free port at the head of the Persian Gulf,