Office of the Historian

891.00/12–1245: Telegram

The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State

Tehran, December 12, 1945—1 p.m.
[Received December 13—7 a.m.]

1113. Press Attaché Young returned this morning by air after 5 days in Tabriz during which time he talked with all classes of people including Iran Government officials, “Democrat” leaders, foreign consuls, religious leaders and private citizens. Preliminary report which is based on indisputable evidence collected first hand follows:

1.
Successful “Democrat” occupation Tabriz expected today (Young himself saw one armed band about 40 men advancing on city as he drove to airport this morning).
2.
Governor General Bayat and Iranian Commanding General Derakhshaki both informed Young they could not and would not defend city and would confine efforts to protecting Governor General’s residence and troop barracks.
3.
“Governmental Assembly of Azerbaijan” composed of members chosen in recent “elections”6 is to hold first meeting in Tabriz today. It will proceed to select “cabinet” of 10 “ministers” from own membership all portfolios of Iran Government being represented except War and Foreign Affairs.
4.
Bayat has had two meetings with “Democrat” leaders and has offered to compromise. They, however, insist on outright grant of “autonomy” without being willing define in advance scope of this grant and Bayat says he is unable meet this demand.
5.
Without exception everyone in Tabriz says Soviets have distributed large amounts arms to “Democrats” and are assisting movement every way including manpower. Democrat leaders themselves admitted to Young they were receiving Russian help. Democrat headquarters and meetings Tabriz guarded by armed Soviet soldiers in uniform.
6.
Young personally saw truckload Iranian troops turned back by Soviet control post when they attempted leave Tabriz. He further saw official Iranian Army report just received from Ardabil saying Soviet troops there had prevented despatch of aid to gendarme post which was under attack and Soviet Commander had ordered Iranian Commander Ardabil not make any move with his forces.
7.
Iranian Commander Tabriz has received official report Democrats have taken over control of Ardabil. Only major town left in Azerbaijan not under de facto Democrat control is Rezaieh. Iran [Page 491] Government officials Tabriz admitted to Young they no longer controlled city except in name.
8.
Iranian officials Tabriz say recent moves of Democrats have been faster than anticipated and indicate Democrats want to present Conference of Foreign Ministers at Moscow with fait accompli.
9.
Iran Government officials and others have been murdered on streets of Tabriz and state of abject though concealed terror reigns in city. Young had to arrange meetings in secret to get people to speak freely.

Fuller report follows soonest possible.7

To Department as 1113; repeated Moscow 330; London 126.

Murray
  1. In despatch 183, December 10, 1945, the Ambassador in Iran transmitted a translation of an article appearing in a Tehran newspaper which stated that the elections had been held from November 27 to December 3 (891.00/12–1045).↩
  2. The text of Mr. Young’s report of December 12, 1945, to the Ambassador in Iran was transmitted in despatch 192, December 18, from Tehran, not printed; the despatch noted that telegrams 1113, December 12, and 1134, December 15, “were largely based” on the report (891.00/12–1845).↩