DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington D.C. (illegible text)
The Honorable
L. Bruce Laingen
Carge d'Affaires, a.i.
American Embassy
Tehran
Dear Bruce:
Here is a copy of the paper you requested. I also send for your background reading a contingency paper done in PAB. Please protect both carefully.
I had lunch with George Cave on Monday, following his return. I believe you have received virtually all of the substance of his two conversations through standard reporting. There are no plans for follow-up meetings and that is and open question. The fellow seems to think he might come here as Ambassador. He indicated to George there is a high regard for you personally.
The main nourishment I took from George was (1) a deep sense of inadeqacy in governing among the leadership, a desire for U.S. help, but an inability to ask for or even accept it; and (2) concern over the strength of clerical influence, optimism (like us) on that count for the long term but fear that the Majlis elections might produce only mullahs — meaning that the long term might be that much longer away. The interesting idea is that Khomeini himself shares some of these worries and is also unable to work around them. Anything you can contribute to broaden our knowledge of who is thinking what in the inter circle will be welcome.
Finally, here is a paper I did and for which DN added the sentence at the top of the second page.
Sincerely,
Henry Precht
SECRET - EYES ONLY
