740.0011 European War 1939/16232: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:18 p.m.]
210. Reference Department’s 109, October 11, 6 p.m. Moose returned here Sunday evening after having visited Tabriz, (Rezaieh?), and Resht and is now preparing a report on his trip which includes the following: All evidence obtained tends to show that Soviet discipline has been uniformly good and that minor disturbances which have occurred were caused by local people. Open separatist movements were early discouraged by the Soviet military authorities though Communist propaganda continues to be spread by word of mouth, motion pictures and in Tabriz by the theater and the registration of Soviet sympathizers.
The railway has been completed from Kazvin to a point beyond Zenjan and some work has been done all the way to Tabriz. Construction stopped completely at the time of Soviet invasion and much equipment and material has been carried off by Soviet forces and by villagers. The Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan (Tabriz) states that the equipment and material are now being collected and that Iranian Government has ordered prompt resumption of work. Though no definite decision has yet been reached the British military transport [Page 475] authorities are considering immediate completion of line as far as (Kaflankuh?) a few miles short of Mianeh and eventual completion of entire line.
Seven missionaries in Tabriz are American citizens. They dislike submitting their passports to the Consulate in Tehran each 6 months for validation and fear loss in their regular Iranian mails. While Tabriz is now quiet they fear local disturbances following withdrawal of Soviet troops. They likewise fear possible German invasion of Azerbiajan. In either event they would like to have a consular officer in Tabriz to inform them when the last possible moment for evacuation arrives and to afford maximum protection to mission property. They plainly indicated that they considered Moose’s visit as preliminary to reopening of Tabriz Consulate. He neither denied nor confirmed their belief.
Consulate and residence quarters can be had in Tabriz though probably it would take some weeks to find a suitable place, agree on terms and carry out inevitable alterations and repairs. Rents are relatively low. Combined quarters should cost $1000 a year or less. Heating would be more expensive than in Tehran.
A full report follows by mail.61
- Not printed.↩