The People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union ( Molotov ) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ( Bevin )11

Thank you for informing me in your letter of 19th September of the British Government’s attitude on the question of the withdrawal of British and Soviet troops from Iran. I must in turn inform you that the decision of the Berlin Three Power Conference regarding the withdrawal of troops from Teheran has already been put into effect from the Soviet side. As regards the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops from Iran, the Soviet Government, as you are aware, take the view that this withdrawal of troops should be effected within the period laid down in the Anglo-Soviet-Iranian Treaty. If necessary, the plan for the final withdrawal of Soviet and British troops from Iran could be discussed between us towards the end of the said period. The Soviet Government, accordingly, see no need for this question to be discussed in the Council of Foreign Ministers.

  1. Reprinted from Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 414, col. 246.