891.00/12–245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2—9:20 a.m.]
1040. Final paragraph of Soviet note of November 26 to Iranian Government follows:
“In connection with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement concerning the entry of military reinforcements to the northern provinces, the Soviet Embassy would draw that Ministry’s attention to the following points. Taking into consideration the fact that any undesirable [Page 471] incidents must be avoided in the interest of both the Persian and the Russian Governments and the fact that this question is connected with the entry of new Persian troops into the northern provinces of Persia, the Soviet Government does not deem the entry of such troops at the present moment to be expedient, and it must be taken into consideration that if any new forces in addition to the regular Persian Army and gendarmerie stationed in these districts should enter these areas, then such action would lead to disurbances and bloodshed in the northern provinces of Persia. The Soviet Government would than be obliged, for the maintenance of the security of the Soviet garrison, to bring in new reinforcements of their own. As the Soviet Government does not desire to bring reinforcements into Persia it does not therefore deem it expedient for Persian military reinforcements to enter the northern provinces of Persia.”
[Sent to Department] as 1040, repeated to Moscow 307, London 109.