841.24591/9–1445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14—11 a.m.]
729. Colonel Pybus, British Military Attaché, informs Colonel Baker schedule for evacuation British troops from Tehran has been completed. First units will move September 15 and shift will be completed by about October 1 except for some 25 officers and 50 men who will remain to wind up leases and other administrative matters. Headquarters British forces in Iran will be established Ahwaz.
This decision by British is apparently unrelated to any Russian plans and it is evident British have decided to move in hopes of forcing Russians to follow suit. Pybus told Baker they hoped to get Soviets entirely out of Iran in 3 months because they feared longer Russian occupation would result in secession of northern provinces.
Rptd London as 58 and Moscow as 224.