740.00119 Council/12–2445: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

2630. Secdel 41. Inasmuch as Iran may present charges against the Soviet Union at the meeting of the General Assembly of UNO in Jan, or in the Security Council as soon as it is set up, we have been working on instructions for the American Delegate with regard to the attitude which this Govt should assume. In the preparation of these instructions, we have made a careful analysis of the issues involved in the Iranian-Soviet dispute from the point of view of the Charter adopted in San Francisco.

We do not see how, without undermining world confidence in UNO, our Delegate in view of the facts already known could pursue any course other than to agree that a careful investigation be made of Iranian charges to the effect that the Soviet Union had infringed upon the territorial integrity or political independence of Iran. Furthermore, if an investigation by UNO should convince this Govt of the validity of the Iranian charges, this Govt would be obliged to concur in a finding unfavorable to the Soviet Union. Such a finding, if made, might confront UNO with a situation similar to that which the League of Nations faced when presented with the problems of Manchuria and Ethiopia, with the result that the effectiveness of UNO as a factor in the preservation of world peace based upon the principles outlined in the Charter would be seriously undermined.

We are bringing this matter to your attention in the hope that in your second interview with Stalin (Moscow’s tel 4262, Dec 23) you will find it possible to impress him with our anxiety in this respect in all frankness so that the Soviet Govt may fully realize the world [Page 513] significance of the policies which it appears to be pursuing in northern Iran may not later charge us with lack of frankness in case it should learn only in London that we cannot ignore the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations in order to avoid taking before all of the United Nations an attitude critical of the Soviet Union.

The US note of Nov 24 was based upon the principles of the UNO Charter. The Charter has been endorsed by the large section of the American public, which places its hope for future peace on international cooperation. We feel, therefore, that the granting of any concessions to the Soviet Union which would compromise the principles involved would not only seriously impair the future effectiveness of UNO but would also be a severe blow to those in this country who are supporting UNO and the principles on which UNO is based.

Sent to Moscow, repeated to Tehran.39

Acheson
  1. As No. 748.