740.0011 European War 1939/24546: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:17 p.m.]
302. Soviet military authorities have asked Iran Government to send a brigade of troops to Tabriz to which Iranians replied they have not a brigade available. To Iranian suggestion that a brigade be recruited from former Azerbaijan troops Soviets replied that “this would take too much time.” I understand, however, that such recruiting is now taking place. Soviet request is interpreted by British here as indication Soviet forces in Azerbaijan are being or are about to be reduced.
Kuniholm reports considerable Russian troop movements in Azerbaijan in last 2 weeks. He states that while most of this is normal reshuffling of units there are in fact indications that troops are being reduced to point where they constitute no more than token force. Kuniholm also reports Soviets adopting sterner attitude regarding Kurds. This is substantiated in Tehran where it is reported Soviets have told Iranians they would not object to disarming Kurds “providing it can be done peacefully”.