891.516/171: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus)
383. From Treasury. Your No. 727, July 16. Treasury is prepared to license sale of $1,000,000 of gold for shipment to Iran. Air transportation will be provided by United States Army. Please have Banque Mellie Iran authorize Federal Reserve Bank of New York by tested cable to acquire gold for export on its behalf, to debit account of Banque Mellie Iran at Federal Reserve Bank of New York for cost of gold and all expenses, including insurance, if desired by Banque Mellie (funds on deposit in Guaranty Trust Company could of course be transferred to Banque Mellie dollar account at Federal Reserve Bank) and to deliver gold to United States Army when Federal Reserve Bank is advised by Army it is ready to provide transportation. Inasmuch as your No. 727 indicates that 10–ounce gold bars contained in previous shipment are being minted into pahlavis please have Banque Mellie indicate whether it wishes (a) 400–ounce bars of fineness of .995 or better (b) 400–ounce bars of approximate fineness of .900 or (c) 10–ounce bars the supplying of which may be subject to some delay and which cost slightly more than (a) or (b). [Treasury.]