811.24591/12–2745: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Murray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 29—2:18 a.m.]
1186. Moscow’s 4161 to Department.42 In my opinion part of Pravda article dealing with presence of American troops in Iran should call for prompt and emphatic protest to Soviet Government.43 To me it is intolerable Soviets should continue this line when they know very well that American troops entered Iran for sole purpose of saving Soviet Union from defeat and destruction. I believe we, should tell Soviet flatly and emphatically that we consider such criticism grossly insulting to the gallant officers and men of the PGC who truly wrought miracles to bring sorely needed aid to the Soviet Union in its darkest hour. We should point out further more that Iranians have never objected to presence of US troops in Iran and that in any event they will all be gone by January 1st.43a
Repeated Moscow 369.
- Dated December 14, not printed.↩
- The Pravda article is dated December 14, 1945. It severely criticized remarks made by Iranian Prime Minister Hakimi in a recent conversation with press correspondents, stating: “Third of Allied powers about which Mr. Ibrahim Khakimi spoke is USA. However, if you please, United States, as far as is known, has no treaty with Iran concerning presence there of American troops. But if Ibrahim Khakimi says that American troops must be withdrawn this means that they were brought there. There is no treaty but there are troops! When did they appear, for what purpose did they appear, where are they located, how many are there? For what purpose do they remain in Iran? When do they intend to leave and do they so intend? There is no direct answer to these questions. There is pure fog. This is artificial fog.” (841.9111RR/12–1445)↩
- A notation was made on this telegram in the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs: “No action taken.”↩