307. Editorial Note
On April 25, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union ratified the Soviet–Iranian agreement of December 2, 1954, on border and financial questions. At the 247th meeting of the National Security Council, May 5, Allen Dulles briefed the Council on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security” as follows:
“Mr. Dulles moved on to comment on yet another development in the evolution of Soviet foreign policy. He pointed out that on April 25 the Soviet Union had signed an agreement with Iran which had been very generous in its terms to the latter country. The Soviet had agreed to pay $21 million to Iran as settlement for Iran’s claims on gold removed by the Soviet Union. The agreement had also covered border rectifications, and a few acres more of the disputed lands had gone to Iran than had gone to the USSR. Significantly, the Russians had throughout the negotiations applied no heavy pressures on the Iranians.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, May 6; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)
The Embassy in Moscow reported and assessed the significance of the ratification process in telegrams 1871, 1900, and 1911, April 21, 25, and 26. (Department of State, Central Files, 661.88/4–2155, 661.88/4–2555, and 661.88/4–2655, respectively)