Office of the Historian

891.00/12–2045: Telegram

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

Tehran, December 20, 1945—4 p.m.
[Received December 21—6:10 a.m.]

1165. Embtel 1062, Dec 4. Prime Minister today ordered steps taken for establishment of local councils in provinces and towns throughout Iran except in Azerbaijan. Unless there is Majlis objection, Govt contemplates early elections to put this plan into effect.

Embassy understands this is work of Interior Minister Saleh32 who was known to favor such councils and who apparently lost no time in putting ideas into effect upon assuming Interior portfolio.

Sent Dept 1165, repeated Moscow 363, London 144.

Murray
  1. The Ambassador reported in telegram 1160, December 20, 1945, 2 p.m., the appointment of Mr. Saleh as Minister of Interior as part of a reshuffling of the Hakimi Cabinet. His predecessor, Khalil Fahimi, was described in the telegram as “anathema to Russians and pro-Russian elements here.” (891.002/12–2045)↩