891.00/2036: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—1:50 a.m.]
818. Department’s 76, February 11. I am reliably informed that the return to Iran of Seyid Zia-ed-Din Tabatabai is imminent. British Minister confirms this fact but denies any British complicity therein. To prove this point, he states that he has refused to assist Tabatabai to obtain seat in plane from Palestine. Notwithstanding this denial I have every reason to believe British have at least encouraged him; for example, British Minister admitted to me that there has been correspondence between him and British Oriental Secretary Trott.91 Since both Shah and Russian Ambassador have told me they are very much opposed to Tabatabai, our wisest course for the moment may be to permit them to offer any resistance they desire and ourselves await developments.
With reference to my 761, July 23,92 British continue their political activity. British Minister informed me yesterday that he is now preparing a letter to Prime Minister demanding that Deputy Nobakht have his immunity waived by Majlis and be arrested by Government. [Page 375] Nobakht is accused by British of working in German interests, a charge based mainly on the Mayer document (see despatch 495, March 2593). In justification of this British demand, I must say that Nobakht has been not only generally obstructive, but has taken a consistent anti-Allied line. As far as I am aware, he is the only deputy who has made public statements against United States (see despatch 192, January 30, 194294).
Political situation continues to drift hopelessly with virtual breakdown in government and daily threats of riots and strikes of woefully under-paid government employees. Soheily seems to feel that tenure of office is an end in itself and hangs on for dear life despite weak position of his Government and British desire to oust him. Millspaugh’s recent regulation creating Government monopoly in grains has further embarassed Government by subjecting it to violent attacks by speculators and war profiteers who prefer huge profits to common welfare. Millspaugh in matters of grain monopoly, income tax law, and government salaries has reached critical and climactic point in his struggle with selfish and corrupt elements. Under attack now from all quarters, including Majlis Cabinet, press and merchants, he sticks to his guns with equanimity, secure in knowledge that he is working for welfare of people. His test of strength is close at hand and outcome is in the balance.95
- A. C. Trott; the Oriental Secretary at the British Legation in Tehran also held the rank of First Secretary of Legation.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. The “Franz Mayer documents” were allegedly a collection of documents which the British were supposed to have seized from the effects of a reputed German spy at Isfahan in Iran in November 1942, and which were widely used by the British authorities as evidence of a widespread and highly organized plot. Attaches of the Legation in Iran held doubts as to the authenticity of some of the documents. The main core of fact seemed to rest in a situation whereby certain German nationals had remained in Iran after the Anglo-Russian occupation of 1941, to act as Axis agents. “Such Nazi personages as are mentioned in the documents have existed—hence they may still exist” (891.00/2008).↩
- Not printed.↩
- For further correspondence on the Millspaugh Mission, see pp. 510 ff.↩