761.67/11–2245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 23—2:30 a.m.]
1478. Secretary General of Foreign Office told me this morning that Turkish Government while not unduly alarmed over conditions in [Page 1282] Iran1 is nevertheless concerned with possibilities in situation there which may affect Turkey. He read me two telegrams received from Turkish Ambassador at Tehran about 6 months ago. The first reported information to effect that Soviet authorities were stirring up revolt in northern Iran and when this broke out Soviets would prevent Iranian authorities from restoring order. Second telegram few days later reported that if revolt should in fact take place it should be regarded as preparatory step to be followed by early action by USSR in Turkey’s eastern provinces to bring about their annexation to Soviet Armenia. Erkin remarked “first step seems to be taking place. It may be another phase of general war of nerves—or it may be something more serious”.
Sent Department as 1478; repeated Moscow 106 and Tehran 8.