891.00/9–2745: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 27—1:15 p.m.]
777. Call of Ambassador Maximov reported mytel 773, Sept. 27 is remarkable because it is first time in more than 2 years that any Soviet representative has taken initiative in discussing general questions of policy with this Embassy. Since Maximov had just returned from consultation in Moscow, I feel sure call was made on instructions his Govt.
I judge his purpose was to instill in me a distrust of Iran Govt and ruling class as well as of British policy in Iran and so produce an attitude of at least passive acquiescence in Soviet policy toward present regime here. His statements about “reactionary” character, “ingratitude”, and “uncooperative” attitude of Iran Govt’s follow line taken by Soviet press and Iranian Leftist group ever since oil crisis in fall of 194430 and could only be intended to justify Soviet hostility to regime. His interest in difficulties of American advisers, however, is new development and was obviously designed to show me that present Iranian situation is unfavorable to US interests as well as to Russian, while reference to Seyid Zia ed-Din was probably indirect way of suggesting British too are working against America here.
Although I think I made it clear we were not opposed in any way to legitimate Russian interests, I am quite sure Maximov could not have received any impression that I might be sympathetic toward a policy of bludgeoning Iran into submission to Soviet wishes, much less that the United States might join with Russians in putting pressure on Iranians.
Sent Dept as 777, repeated London for SecdelAm as 68 and Moscow as 247.
- For documentation on the decision of Iran not to enter negotiations for oil concessions and the Soviet reaction, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, pp. 445 ff.↩