shall provide to the Swiss Government relevant inventories and descriptions.

It will also be appreciated if the Swiss Government will undertake to supervise to the extent feasible the packing and forwarding of remaining personal effects of United States official personnel. The Swiss Government is requested to arrange payment and termination of services of non-American employees in accordance with instructions to be furnished by the Department of State. It is anticipated that the Swiss Government may desire to employ certain of these personnel. In that event it is understood that such personnel become Swiss employees who will be responsible to the Swiss authorities and who will be paid with funds which the United States makes available to the Swiss Government for that purpose. These salaries will be subject, as applicable, to deductions for United States Civil Service retirement.

All communications with respect to the protection of United States interests in the Islamic Republic of Iran will be conveyed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bern.

Dept. of State File No. P80 0113-0230.

Under Secretary of State David D. Newsom and other Department officials discussed arrangements for Algerian representation of Iranian interests in the United States with Ambassador Redha Malek and his deputy, Minister-Counselor Slim Debagha, on April 9, 10, and 14, 1980.

On April 9, Ambassador Malek officially informed Under Secretary Newsom that the Algerian Government had accepted the Iranian Government's request for it to assume general responsibility for representing Iranian interests in the United States. At the conclusion of the meeting the Ambassador handed the Under Secretary two diplomatic notes, one formally requesting the United States Government's authorization for Algeria to assume the role of protecting power for Iran and the other requesting (additional) security protection for the Algerian Embassy's premises and those of the former Iranian Embassy and consular offices in New York, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco.

Ibid., Nos. P80 0113-0236 and 0051-2293.

During discussions with Minister-Counselor Debagha on April 10 a Department of State official noted that the Iranian Interests Section under the Algerian Embassy could expect to perform consular and administrative services of immediate need to Iranians in the United States, but should not expect to perform political, economic, commercial, or public affairs functions. He also pointed out that the Iranian Interests Section would be permitted to operate to the extent to which the Iranian Government permitted the American Interests Section to operate under the Embassy of Switzerland at Tehran.

On April 14, 1980, Under Secretary Newsom confirmed to Ambassdor Malek that the United States would approve Algeria as the protecting power for Iranian interests, when Iran approved Switzerland as the protecting power for United States interests (and he noted that the United States was awaiting such approval from Iran). Mr. Newsom pointed out, inter alia, that the United States would not consent to entrusting custody of Iranian diplomatic or consular premises in the United States to Algeria until the United States regained its own premises in Iran. In an aide-mémoire dated April 18, 1980, the Department clarified certain points made during the discussion on April 14 between the Under Secretary and the Ambassador. The substantive portion follows:

The canon of diplomatic practice in protecting powers cases, as in other matters, is that the parties act on a basis of reciprocity. The United States expects to accord to the Algerian Government facilities and procedures similar to those made available to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. Unfortunately, the present situation in Iran, in which the United States official premises are not in American custody, and the personnel of the United States are not free to go about their business, precludes the arrangements usually made in protecting powers cases.

In these circumstances the United States finds it necessary to retain custody of the Iranian official premises in the United States until the United States (or a protecting power on its behalf) regains its premises in Iran. The United States has no objection if Algeria, on behalf of and with the support of Iran, rents suitable property in Washington for the exclusive purpose of representing Iranian interests under the Algerian flag. Access to pertinent Iranian Embassy files, and their transfer to the location where they will be used, will be permitted once arrangements to house them have been made.

Until such time as conditions permit American diplomats to staff an American Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, the United States can only agree to augmentation of Algerian personnel with locally hired persons, including former locally hired personnel of the Iranian Embassy, but not Iranian diplomats, to staff an Iranian Interests Section of the Algerian Embassy in Washington. This staff must be under the supervision of the Algerian Embassy. The Department of State deems it appropriate, in cases where work on Iranian affairs is done on premises away from the Algerian Embassy, to have an Algerian officer present at all times.

The Department of State has no objection if Farokh Parsi, Legal Adviser to the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, comes to Washington for a few days to consult with the Algerian Embassy. He should file the necessary form with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations for permission to travel.

Dept. of State File No. P80 0108-2007.

On April 15, 1980, the Algerian Embassy at Washington advised the Department of State that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had informed the Algerian Government of its acceptance of Switzerland as the protecting power for United States interests in Iran. (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also informed the Swiss Government to the same effect.) The Department of State requested that the respective acceptances of third state representation be provided by formal diplomatic notes (from the receiving state addressed to the protecting power), to be issued simultaneously.

The Department of State's note to the Embassy of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria at Washington, dated April 24, 1980, read:

The Department of State acknowledges receipt of note No. 001 dated April 9, 1980, from the Embassy of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria informing the Department that the Government of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria has agreed to represent the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United States. The note requests that the Government of the United States give its concurrence with regard to this arrangement.

The Department of State informs the Embassy of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria that the Government of the United States agrees to the protection of the diplomatic and consular interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United States by the Embassy of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria in Washington. It is understood that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees simultaneously to the protection of the diplomatic and consular interests of the United States in Iran by the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.

Dept. of State File No. P80 0113-0235.

In a letter to Secretary of State Muskie, dated May 21, 1980, the Chargé d'Affaires of Switzerland at Washington, Franz E. Muheim, confirmed that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had agreed to Swiss protection of U.S. interests in Iran, by a note to the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran, dated Apr. 24, 1980. Ibid., No. P80 0113-0228. In the meantime, on Apr. 29, 1980, the Dept. of State formally replied to the Algerian Embassy's request that the United States ensure the safety and protection of its premises and those formerly occupied by the Iranian Embassy and consulates (the Embassy's note, No. 002, dated Apr. 9, 1980, see p. 336, ante). The Department assured the Embassy that "all appropriate measures will be taken for the safety and protection of diplomatic and consular premises in the United States." Dept. of State File No. P80 0058-1388. (Subsequently, in response to a further Embassy note, dated July 29, 1980, regarding the safety and protection on a permanent basis of the premises of the Algerian chancery, the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy, and the Algerian Ambassador's residence, the Department on Aug. 14, 1980, proposed, with the Embassy's concurrence, that a meeting be held with representatives of the Embassy, the Secret Service, and the Department. Ibid., No. P80 0112-0673.)

On May 7, 1980, the Algerian Embassy forwarded to the Department a provisional list of local Iranian and foreign personnel to be

employed in its Iranian Interests Section. The Department approved the list, with the exception of a former Press Attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whom it found to be "not acceptable as an employee of the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria."

Ibid., No. P80 0115-0108, in response to ibid., No. P80 0115-0106.

In a note dated June 23, 1980, the Algerian Embassy asked the Dept. of State to enter its Iranian Interests Section in the Department's Diplomatic List, immediately following the listing for the Embassy. The Department replied on July 14, 1980, that since the persons listed as foreign local staff of the Iranian Interests Section were not entitled to diplomatic, official, or special status, their names could not be entered in the Diplomatic List. It also reminded the Embassy that before additions or changes were made in the foreign local staff of its Iranian Interests Section, the Department's permission must first be obtained in each individual case. Ibid., No. P80 0115-0101, in response to ibid., No. P80 0115-0103.

By a note dated July 24, 1980, the Department invited the Embassy's attention to its aide-mémoire regarding the Iranian Interests Section, dated Apr. 18, 1980, ante, and emphasized that the Section's staff must be under the personal supervision of an Algerian diplomatic officer at all times and that staff members must be acceptable to the Department. The note stated:

The Department also wishes to recall to the Embassy that the Iranian Interests Section is to perform only consular and administrative services of immediate need to Iranians in the United States. The Embassy is asked to review the Section's staffing to ensure that only personnel who will contribute to these functions are employed in the Section.

The note pointed out that full documentation must be furnished for all Section employees, including social security numbers and dates of birth. It also informed the Embassy of four employees whom the Department no longer found acceptable, and concluded: "In accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations it is requested that their functions with the Embassy be terminated forthwith." Ibid., No. P84 0078-1321.

An Algerian Embassy aide-mémoire dated July 15, 1980, called the Department's attention to the condition of certain premises that Iranian consulates general had formerly occupied. Replying on August 18, the Department stated that they had not been inspected after United States marshals had sealed them. It noted the report of the Algerian-American inventory team that the consular offices in two cities were in a condition characteristic of hastily vacated premises, and that nothing out of the ordinary had otherwise been reported. The Department "strongly" recommended that it and the Algerian Embassy "act jointly to carry out the Department's recommendation that mutually acceptable individuals be assigned to all Iranian Government-owned properties in the United States by the Embassy as guardians or housekeepers in residence on the premises."

Ibid., No. P84 0078-1325, in response to ibid., No. P84 0080-0394.

In response to an Algerian Embassy request dated November 5, 1980, for access to certain documents stored at two Iranian consular residences, the Department replied on November 10:

The Department is prepared to assist the Embassy of Algeria in gaining access to documents related solely to the scholarships and consular matters of Iranian students which are now stored at the residence of the former Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in San Francisco and at the residence of the former Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New York.

In agreeing to permit such access the Department does so on the understanding that the Algerian Embassy Officer in charge of the Iran Interests Section will be physically present and responsible for assuring that only documents regarding the financial and consular records of Iranian students are removed, and an inventory is then made of the documents taken. The Department also assumes that the Algerian Embassy Officer will select one member of the Iranian Interests Section Staff to assist him and will notify the Department of the name and responsibility of the staff member so designated.

Access to the two residences will be accomplished in the presence of Department of State officials. When the search for the documents has been completed, the premises will be locked in the presence of the Algerian Embassy Officer in charge of the Iranian Interests Section and Department of State representatives.

It is our understanding that the Algerian Embassy Officer will take full responsibility for any damage to safes necessarily incident to gaining access to documents as noted above. The Algerian Embassy Officer shall also be responsible for adequately securing the contents of safes that have been opened.

Ibid., No. P84 0078-1323, in response to ibid., No. P84 0080-0393.

Medals, Decorations, Gifts, and Honors

Congressional Medal for Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor

On March 6, 1980, President Carter signed into law as Public Law 96-201, H.R. 6374, authorizing the President of the United States to present, on behalf of the Congress, to Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, the former Canadian Ambassador to Iran, a specially struck gold medal "in recognition of his valiant efforts to secure the safe return of six American Embassy officials in Tehran." 94 Stat. 79.

The six had succeeded in fleeing the American Embassy compound when "students" seized it on November 4, 1979. On November 10 they sought safe haven with the Canadian Embassy. From that date until January 28, 1980, Ambassador Taylor gave them shelter and protection while laying plans for their departure in the guise of Canadian businessmen or technicians.