761.91/11–844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:15 p.m.]
830. Three days ago Soviet censor in Iran held up five clear telegrams from Iranian ForOf to Iranian Missions abroad setting forth Iranian side of oil concession dispute. At request of Soviet Ambassador who refuses to speak to Prime Minister, British Ambassador asked Saed to send future telegrams of this sort in code to which latter agreed.
Today Russian censor informed British censor he had definitely stopped two official Iranian code telegrams, one addressed to Washington. It is assumed these are code versions of clear telegrams held up November 5.
British Ambassador has so far been unsuccessful in attempts to get explanation of this Soviet action which violates Anglo-Soviet-Iranian censorship agreement87 providing that Iranian Government is free to send any type of message in code or clear without interference.
Sent to Department repeated to Moscow as No. 72.
- The framework of British and Soviet communications responsibilities in Iran was stipulated in the Anglo-Soviet-Iranian Treaty of Alliance signed at Tehran, January 29, 1942, British and Foreign State Papers, vol. cxliv, p. 1017; for correspondence concerning attitude of the United States toward this treaty, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iv, pp. 263 ff.↩