Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎221r] (441/644)

51
Yugoslavia.
232. In October M. S. Spasojevitch arrived in Tehran and assumed the duties
of Charge d’Aflaires. This is Yugoslavia’s first representation in this coinitry,
her interests having hitherto been looked after by the French Legation. These
interests now seem to be principally in securing the exit from Iran of Yugoslavs
employed on the railway with as much of the money due to them in foreign
currency as possible.
(D) International.
Middle-Eastern Pact of Non-Aggression.
233. It had long been contemplated that, as soon as the Irano-Iraqi dispute
over their frontier should be settled, the Four-Power Pact of Non-Aggression,
initialled at Geneva in October 1935, between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan,
should be concluded.
234. In April the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs disclaimed that his
prospective visit to Bagdad and Tehran in June would be connected with either
of the above questions. By June, however, it was pretty clear that both treaties
would be ripe for signature in Tehran in the following month, and shortly alter
the arrival of Dr. Aras in Tehran at the end of June, the Afghan Foreign
Minister was urgently invited to come to Tehran to sign the pact. Faiz
Muhammad arrived early in July, the Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs having
preceded him by a few days, and the pact was signed at the Shah s summer
palace at Saadabad on the 8th July. It was agreed that the treaty should
hereafter be known as the Pact of Saadabad.
235. The pact was signed as identical with that initialled at Geneva. It
provided for mutual non-interference, non-aggression, and consultation; also foi
reference in certain circumstances to the Council of the League of Nations, and
for the settlement of disputes between themselves by pacific means alone. The
pact was concluded for a definite period of five years, and further, in default of
denunciation by one of the contracting parties.
236. On the day of signature a joint communique emphasising the identity
of views between the four parties was issued. A further communique, issued on
the 13th July, announced that representatives of the four parties, who styled
themselves the Council of the Eastern Entente, would meet not less than once a
year, and that a secretariat would be established at Tehran, the intention being
that'this should consist of a high official of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and
members of the diplomatic missions at Tehran of the other parties. The first
fruits of this co-operation were to be a joint support for Iran’s candidature for
the seat on the Council of the League of Nations, due to be vacated by Turkey,
after which an alphabetical roster was to be established among the parties, and
there was to be joint support for a semi-permanent seat for Turkey. Iran was
duly elected by the Assembly in September, but the new Entente's support of
Turkey was unsuccessful. The communique closed with a friendly message to
neighbouring and allied Powers.
237. Opinion in the Diplomatic Body at Tehran seemed to be that the
conclusion of this pact was a restraint on Italy oiganised by His Majesty s
Government in the United Kdngdom through the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of the Turkish
Government. By the end of the year the pact had been latified by none of the
contracting parties.