891.6363/9–2144: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:20 p.m.]
698. A Russian delegation headed by Kavtaradze, Vice Commissar of Foreign Affairs, with two other members and several technical experts has arrived here. On September 13 they had an interview with the Prime Minister and on the 16th were received by the Shah.
I learned from a trustworthy official source that the purpose of this delegation is to examine into the oil fields at Kavirkhourian in the region of Semnan. This field has been the object of dispute and uncertainty for many years. It is, however, only a small part of the northern area where oil may be expected to be found. Kavtaradze has told the Prime Minister of Iran so far only that he would like to make a technical examination of the fields and the Russian experts have already proceeded to the spot for that purpose. The Prime Minister has said confidentially to the British Ambassador that so far [Page 453] no proposal has been made to revive the old concession which was never ratified nor to make new proposals regarding oil concessions in the northern region. There is no indication at present that the Russian object is to block concessions in the south to either the Americans or British.