761.91/11–244: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State

secret

9503. In discussing the impasse between the Iranian and Soviet Government on oil concessions, a Foreign Office official today said that the British Government is gravely concerned over the Russian attitude. If the Iranian Government should give in and allow the Russians to have the concession they desire it would simply be a major step in the inclusion of northern Iran permanently in the Russian orbit as a sphere of influence.

The Soviet request for the concession was unlimited in scope, said the official, adding that when the British or Americans negotiate for such concessions they have always stated what royalties they will pay and other details of that nature. The Russians however have never said that they will pay anything to the Iranian Government.

The Foreign Office official continued to describe in the following terms other Russian activities in Iran:

The Soviets have bought up a lot of the less important or cheap newspapers, which of course contain Russian propaganda; and these papers have now taken the attitude of attacking the Persian Prime [Page 332] Minister over the oil concession troubles. The Anglo-American Soviet Censorship Committee in Iran passes on the news allowed out of Iran and the Russian representative has refused to allow the journalists to send out anything that reflects on the Russian attitude. The official told us in strict confidence that the article in today’s London Times (ReEmbtel 9505, November 21) was sent out through the British Embassy at Tehran.

Gallman
  1. Not printed.