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Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎48r] (95/248)

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The record is made up of 1 file (122 folios). It was created in 21 Jun 1942-15 Mar 1946. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF/HrS- BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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*S^r R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received \%th July.)
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(No. 281.)
Sir, Tehran, §th July, 1944. .
WITH reference to my despatch No. 15 6 of the 6t h ApriL I have the honour ^
to convey to you herewith a report on events in Persia during the months of
April, May and June 1944.
Allied Co-operation in Persia. ^
2. During their visit to London in April Mr. Stettinius and Sccj>dti~u
Mr. Wallace Murray raised the question of Allied co-operation in Persia. It was
agreed, on the proposal of Mr. Murray, to suggest to the Soviet Government that face Aa/xv*
conversations should be held between the Allied representatives in Tehran to ^
implement more fully the provisions of the Declaration of the Tehran Confer- 7
regarding economic assistance to Persia. The Foreign Office in turn * * 'yj.
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suggested that an agreed plan for the improvement of the Persian forces should 4
be communicated to the Persian authorities by the United States and British
Ambassadors in Tehran together with an undertaking to supply the necessary
equipment; the Soviet Government should be informed before the offer was made
and invited to furnish corresponding information regarding any Soviet proposals
to supply arms to Persia. Both the British and American delegations agreed
that their aim was to help Persia to be stable, prosperous and secure and that
to this end the American advisers should be actively supported.
3. The Soviet Government agreed to take part in the economic discussions
proposed by Mr. Murray and the first meeting between the British, Soviet and
American representatives was held in Tehran on the 3rd June. The American
Charge d’Affaires and His Majesty’s Ambassador suggested to the Soviet
Ambassador that the Soviet Embassy should be represented on the new Inter-
Allied Higher Supplies Committee (described in the Economic Section of this
despatch). The inclusion of representatives of the Soviet Embassy would ensure
that co-operation between all four Allies which is essential if the best use is to be
made of local and imported supplies and prices are to be kept as low as possible.
The Soviet Ambassador asked for time for consideration of this proposal.
4. The second meeting was held on the 21st June. The American Charge
d’Affaires and His Majesty’s Ambassador impressed on the Soviet Ambassador
that Persia needed economic assistance and that it was in the Soviet’s own
ultimate interests, if only as beneficiaries of the Trans-Persia route, to contribute
to Persia’s well-being. The American Charge d Affaires and His Majesty’s
Ambassador proceeded cautiously with the proposal which had been made by the
State Department that the Soviet Ambassador should be pressed to support
the American advisers, since the latter are still mistrusted by the Soviet
authorities and it was not desirable to endanger the future of the joint economic
discussions by bringing up this dangerous matter too brusquely. The meeting
then discussed the grain situation and agreed that all possible help must be given
by the Allies to ensure the collection of the Persian Government’s share of the
°Tain. The Soviet Ambassador, on instructions from Moscow, asked for further
information about the proposed Higher Supplies Committee. It was clear that
the Soviet Government were afraid that they might be voted down. The American
Charge d’Affaires and His Majesty’s Ambassador made it quite clear that the
Committee would not vote and would have no executive powers, but would only
try to ascertain Persia’s resources and needs and the possibility of meeting these
needs from Allied sources. The American Charge d’Affaires and His Majesty’s
Ambassador also hinted that any questions which might involve divergence of
opinion between the United Kingdom, American and Soviet Governments should
be discussed outside the Higher Supplies Committee as far as possible. It is
essential that these meetings should not be used by the Persians as an opportunity
to arraign the Russians before the British and the Americans. In the course of
June, the American Charge d’Affaires communicated to the Soviet Ambassador
[56—24] B
/ L T. 1
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Content

This file consists of miscellaneous dispatches relating to internal affairs in Persia [Iran] during the occupation of the country by British and Soviet troops. The file begins with references to an Anglo-Soviet-Persian Treaty of Alliance, signed in January 1942, which followed the Anglo-Soviet invasion of the country in August-September 1941.

Most of the dispatches are addressed by His Majesty's Minister (later Ambassador) at Tehran (Sir Reader William Bullard) to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Anthony Eden). The dispatches discuss political, financial and economic affairs in Persia, as well as issues regarding road and rail transport (for the transportation of foodstuffs), food supplies and press censorship,

Related matters of discussion include the following:

  • British concerns regarding the extent and effect of Axis propaganda in Persia and the Persian Government's response to it.
  • Relations between the Shah [Muhammad Reza Khan] and successive Persian prime ministers, and the power and influence of the Majlis deputies.
  • Anglo-Persian relations, and British concerns regarding Soviet policy in Persia.
  • The Persian press's response to the Allied occupation.
  • The Tehran conference in late November 1943, attended by Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Franklin D Roosevelt, who were also present at a dinner at the British Legation, held in celebration of Churchill's 69th birthday (also discussed is the naming of three streets in Tehran, after Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt respectively).
  • The tribal situation in Persia.
  • The raising of the status of the British Legation in Tehran to that of British Embassy in February 1943.
  • The United States' interests in Persia.
  • The status of Polish evacuees in Persia.
  • The work of the British Council in Persia.
  • The question of the withdrawal of Allied troops from Persia.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 1).

Extent and format
1 file (122 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 124; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎48r] (95/248), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/564, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100042321849.0x000060> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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