View source for Persian Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, January 15, 1917

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'''Persian Reply to President Wilson's Peace Note, January 15, 1917<sup>1</sup>'''

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His Imperial Majesty's Government has instructed me to communi- <br>
cate to your Excellency that it experienced the utmost pleasure upon<br>
receipt of the President's note of December 18, 1916, regarding peace <br>
terms transmitted through the United States plenipotentiary at Tehe- <br>
ran, and to express to you the hope that a step so benevolent and <br>
humane will meet with the success it deserves. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am further instructed to say that, notwithstanding we declared <br>
ourselves neutral, a large part of our country has been disturbed and <br>
devastated by the fighting of the belligerents within our boundaries. <br>
In view of this fact you can not doubt that we heartily welcome and <br>
indorse the move the President has made. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Furthermore, inasmuch as His Majesty's Government understands <br>
from the President's note that he desires the preservation of the in- <br>
tegrity and freedom of the powers and the weaker nations, and in <br>
view of the firm friendship which has always existed between our <br>
two countries, it ardently hopes that the Government of the United <br>
States will assist our oppressed nation to maintain its integrity and <br>
rights, not only for the present, but whenever a peace conference <br>
shall take place.<br>

<sup>1</sup><i>The New York Times</i>, January 16, 1917.