891.00/12–745: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—6:31 a.m.]
12856. Embassy today received communication from Foreign Office dated December 5 requesting that following reply be conveyed to message transmitted in Dept’s 102094 suggesting withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iran by January 1:
“The US Govt will remember that at the time of the London meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers His Majesty’s Govt suggested to the Soviet Govt that the two Govts should agree to withdraw by the middle of December their respective forces with the exception of small disposals parties from the whole of Persia with the exception of certain defined zones. The Soviet Govt were not however able to accept this proposal. His Majesty’s Govt have nevertheless for their part proceeded with the withdrawal arrangements which were suggested in their proposal to the Soviet Govt and except for small administrative parties such of their troops as now remain in Persia are concentrated in the extreme southwest.
His Majesty’s Govt take the view that the Allied troops were in Persia only for purposes connected with the war and now that the war is over they should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Accordingly, [Page 485] on receipt of the US Govt’s proposal His Majesty’s Govt at once began to examine urgently the practicability of withdrawing their forces before the 1st January. They have, however, now been informed that the Soviet Govt have replied to the similar proposal put to them by the US Govt to the effect that they are not prepared to withdraw their forces before the 1st January 1946.
A complete withdrawal by the 1st January would have been a matter of considerable difficulty and would have involved serious financial loss as a result of the abandonment or hasty sale of military stores and installations and, in view of the Soviet Govt’s reply, the British military authorities are no longer investigating the detailed implications of a withdrawal by the 1st January 1946. His Majesty’s Govt have decided instead to refer the Soviet Govt to the suggestion in Mr. Molotov’s letter of the 20th September 1945 to Mr. Bevm that, if necessary, the plan for the final withdrawal of Soviet and British troops from Persia could be discussed between the two countries towards the end of the treaty period for withdrawal. They will suggest to the Soviet Govt that discussion should now be held between the British and Soviet Govts with the object of coordinating their plans for the British and Soviet withdrawal at the earliest possible date.
His Majesty’s Govt entirely agree with the view that the fulfullment of the assurances contained in the Declaration of Tehran of 1st December 1943 requires that the Govt of Iran should have full freedom to move its armed forces in such a manner as it considers necessary in order to preserve its authority and maintain internal security.”
Sent Dept as 12856, repeated Tehran as 39, Moscow as 407.