740.0011 European War 1939/14648: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
134. The Iranian Government in its reply to the British and Russian notes accepts the terms offered (see my No. 12225) with only one important exception: They request that the British zone be altered to exclude Dizful and Khorramabad [Khurramabad] and that Russian zone be amended to exclude Kazvin, Semnan [Samnan], and Sharud [Shahrud]. In addition, they make following observations: they hope that Iranian independence and right to administer the entire country will continue, that the police will immediately resume their duties, that they will not be expected to pay expenses of occupying forces, that to avoid conflicts the forces will have as little contact as possible with the people, that the Allies will buy the goods formerly bought by Germany, that arms and ammunition which have fallen into Allied hands will be returned, that compensation will be made for lives and property lost after Iranian resistance ceased, that prohibition on entry of Germans will last only for the duration of the war, and that the Allies will withdraw their forces when the situation permits. They agree to the expulsion of the Germans but expect the Allies to arrange for their safe conduct.
The Iranians, I understand, have asked for revision of the Russian zone since they fear the Russians, if so near Tehran, may seek a pretext to occupy the capital. Confidentially the British Minister expresses the same fear.
The British and Russian Envoys are still awaiting instructions concerning expulsion of Germans who continue their refuge in German Legation.