761.91/10–2444: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:37 p.m.]
779. Very considerable perturbation is being felt in Iranian official circles by reason of the attitude assumed by the Soviet Embassy in manifesting its displeasure in an unofficial fashion over the Iranian [Page 458] Government’s decision to postpone the petroleum concessions until after the war. I am informed by Court Minister Ala that no official protest has been received on this subject but the following occurrences have taken place.
Members of the Soviet Embassy staff either directly or through intermediaries particularly newspaper editors whose journals are supported by the Soviets have been in contact with members of the Majlis expressing the Embassy’s great dissatisfaction with Mr. Saed the Prime Minister, the Soviet Embassy laying the blame for the decision of the Government individually on Saed. The talk of the Embassy and personnel is to the effect that Saed must resign and the Embassy will see to it that he does.
The Soviet Ambassador at a recent Irano-Soviet football match declined to sit with the official Iranian party which included both the Shah and the Prime Minister although the Chief Military Adjutant of the Court was sent to extend the invitation when the Soviet Ambassador appeared at the playground.
Last Saturday for the first time a considerable body of Russian soldiers in military trucks and conspicuously armed with Tommy-guns paraded rapidly through certain sections of the city and notably before the Parliament building. This caused considerable uneasiness to the inhabitants. There is certain evidence of obstructive measures under way in the Soviet occupied zone. Forrest Crawford, Chief of Cereals and Bread Section of the Millspaugh Mission, has a copy of a telegram addressed to Soviet station masters in North Persia directing them to reserve all railway cars for the sole use of the Soviet military and trade delegation. This has resulted in the holding up of some grain shipments between Zenjan or Mianeh and Tehran.
A Reuter telegram received here but not published locally at the request of the British Embassy quotes the newspaper Trud of Moscow in a violent attack on Prime Minister Saed. This newspaper described Saed as unfriendly to the Soviets and calls him a Fascist reactionary who is obstructing and oppressing the working people of Persia.
The Russian Vice Consul at Tabriz whose removal was requested by Prime Minister Saed because of his interference in local politics whereby he attempted and successfully it appears to influence the election of Deputies from that district to the Majlis has been transferred to Zenjan and promoted Consul. He is of course working in a district where he can cause trouble amongst the workers.
Last week when the Prime Minister exposed to the Majlis the decision of his Government to postpone the oil concessions he received a viva-voce expression of confidence. Unfortunately in his own interest Saed neglected to make a formal role [roll] call and record a vote [Page 459] but all sources agree that lie received an overwhelming approval of his policy.
The Shah has let it be known to me and to the British Ambassador through his Court Minister that he desires and intends to oppose the Russian effort to oust Saed and that short of armed opposition will resist any Russian efforts in the nature of economic or other sanctions. However he is not disposed to do this unless he feels that the British and American Governments are ready to approve this policy. If he received no encouragement from these Governments and Russian pressure becomes too strong he says he will yield and displace Saed on the pretext of an issue not connected with the oil question. He will replace him by a man pledged to the same policies as Saed in regard to petroleum and resistance to Russian manoeuvres. The Ambassador at London Taqizadeh has declined selection as Prime Minister on the grounds that he must return for personal affairs to London. It is likely that Jam [Djam?] Ambassador to Egypt would succeed Saed.
The British Ambassador here has expressed to me his great concern and points out that the Russian Embassy’s action began with the departure of Mr. Churchill from Moscow.72 Vice Commissar Kavtaradze remains in Tehran and shows no disposition to leave. Last night the Shah invited Ambassador Maximov and the Prime Minister to dinner in the hopes of arriving at an understanding. I will learn and report what took place.
Sent to Department repeated to Cairo and Moscow.