Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎304r] (607/749)

3
been confirmed by any reliable source. Manoeuvres of Russian troops did take
place along the frontier m June, but no reliable information is available as to
he number of troops that took part. The suspicion is frequently voiced that the
desire to bring pressure on Turkey is an added reason for the retention of Russian
troops m Azarbaijan.
[Tehran, 15th July, 1945.
Appendix A.
Summary of Article in Newspaper Mardum of §th July, 1945.
k, ^ discusses the Soviet note to Turkey and the false news item
broadcast by Angora Radio concerning Azarbaijan, and states that some people
had been surprised at the suddenness of the Soviet note, but if the course of events
was todowed and various items of news were fitted together, one would find that
the Soviet measure had not been sudden, but merely one in a series of notes and
discussions concerning the probable revision of the^ Turko-Soviet Treaty. After
enumerating the Soviet demands, the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. states that the Russian note was not
m the lorm of an ultimatum, and a specific time-limit had not been fixed. Anv
time the lurkish Government wished to open negotiations she could express her
acceptance of the terms. Not only the Soviet Union, but any independent and
lee nation had the right to specify the terms on which negotiations with another
Government should be carried on or refrain from concluding a treaty with a
country whose attitude she considered unfriendly to herself. Commenting on the
teims, the wiitei states that Kars and Ardahan had been ceded to Turkey at a
time when the newly formed Soviet Government was suffering from the ravages
of war and she did not wish to have any differences with the new Turkey whose
friendship she desired. She had even helped the Turkish Government, but
experience had shown that Turkey preferred to follow other ways than friendship
with the Soviet Union. Her attitude to Fascist Germany proved that she was
waiting for an opportunity to stab Russia in the back. She was not satisfied
with Kars and Ardahan and talked of Pan-Turkism and wished to establish a
Greater Turkey. The tone of the Angora Radio and the Turkish press showed
that upon the fall of Stalingrad she would attack Caucasus. Her attitude
towards the trial of those who had made an attempt on the life of Von Papen left
no trace of doubt as to her lack of sincerity towards the Soviet Union. The Soviet
Union could not forget that she had to keep many divisions of the Red armv idle
on the Turkish frontiers when she could have used them elsewhere. Russian
interest in Straits was the result of past experience and the war with Hitlerite
Germany. The Soviet Union realised that if an unfriendly Government in Turkey
should control the Straits, she would be faced with difficulties. The question of
the revision of Balkan frontiers aimed at giving Bulgaria access to the open seas.
Unfortunately the Turkish authorities instead of removing their differences with
their neighbours tried to extend them so that they could take advantage of the
situation. The news concerning Azarbaijan was an example of this. The Persians
should realise that the position of their country was different from that of Turkey.
Persia had joined the United Nations and had contributed her share to the victory
and expected to be rewarded. To obtain her rights, Persia should be sincere in her
protestations, and prove that she was in favour of preserving friendly relations
with her neighbours and establishing perfect democracy in her country. One of
the conditions laid down by U.S.S.R. for opening negotiations with Turkey was
the fact that Turkey should have a democratic regime It was natural on the part
of the Soviet Union to make such a demand. After having made such sarcrifices
she did not wish to see a Fascist regime established in Turkey.
Appendix B.
Summary of Extract from Persian Newspaper Rahbar of Vlth July, 1945.
A LEADER states that when war broke out in 1939 the balance which
existed in the inter-war years had collapsed. This balance was based upon
Britain’s supremacy, wrapped up in the political machinations of the League of
Nations. It was also based upon the encirclement of Russia, ostracising her and
excluding America from Europe. It culminated in the tragedy of Munich,