891.00/2–446: Telegram

The Vice Consul at Tabriz ( Rossow ) to the Secretary of State

secret

15. [Here follows report by Mr. Rossow that he “called on ‘Prime Minister’ Peshavari this morning with a view to effecting release of large shipment of American-owned sausage casings now spoiling in Tabriz warehouse for lack of permit to ship out of Azerbaijan.”]

[Page 329]

I mentioned prevalent economic distress in province and inquired what steps were being taken in that regard. He replied that at request of merchants this government was preparing to negotiate commercial treaties with foreign governments. I said I believed only sovereign nationals [nations?] negotiated treaties. He replied he was aware of that but nation had to live and he had no alternative. I asked if he meant that he had changed his mind about remaining within Iranian nation. He answered no, but that nation had to have economic life. In reply to question he said he was not now actually in negotiation with any foreign government.

I said I had been informed that movie censorship board had been set up and that American films were being banned on political grounds. He replied this was not true but that films may have been cut on moral grounds. He added there may have been mistakes made but he would see they were not repeated.

I then asked conversationally what his impressions of recent Security Council hearings had been. Embarking on impassioned tirade he said that reference of this problem to UNO had been a great mistake because the affair was a purely internal matter between central government and Azerbaijan. He said no decision could be made on this matter without Azerbaijan’s consent, and that any decision unfavorable to Azerbaijan, no matter where made and whether or not backed up by force, would be resisted. He said his people would not give up national existence and would fight for it to the last man and with sticks and stones if necessary. He continued, he bitterly resented the fact that this matter was being discussed over his government’s head and without its consent and likened it to parents arranging marriage of a daughter.

I commented that my understanding was that case at issue was between Soviet Union and Iran and thus obviously an international matter, that UNO had been created for precisely such matters, that he had himself just said he did not consider province independent, and that therefore I could not quite follow his argument since provinces of a nation are not customarily consulted in international issues. He replied that Azerbaijan’s special status must be recognized and it must be consulted directly in this affair.

I asked if he considered the position at which he had now arrived was irrevocable with respect to finding any satisfactory arrangement with central govt. He said it was irrevocable in the sense that his govt would not retreat one step in its struggle for national existence but that it was revocable in that if central govt wished to come to him the door for establishment of pleasant relations was not closed. He went on to castigate central govt for lack of cooperation and lack of efforts to arrive at satisfactory agreement. I asked then if he had initiated [Page 330] any such action. He replied that he had sent statement of Azerbaijan demands long ago to Shah and Majlis but that it had not even been acknowledged.

I then expressed interest in his recent speech (mytel 11, Jan 2881) and particularly the reference therein to “foreign imperialist nations” aiding his enemies, and inquired what nations he was referring to. He replied he had no specific nations in mind but that any nation that opposed Azerbaijan’s national destiny fitted the description. He [went on] that he had said govts and not nations, that merely because a foreign govt adopted hostile policy did not mean he would consider nation an enemy.

I commented that knowing difficulties of moving large bodies of troops I had been rather surprised with March 2 so close not to have seen any apparent move on the part of Soviet troops toward evacuation. He said, “Why don’t you ask the Russians why they don’t leave.” I replied I was not asking but merely commenting. He then said he was aware of lack of signs of departure, but that since Russians had been strictly neutral in the local affair, since occupation arrangement had been made with central govt and not with Azerbaijan, and since he had more pressing internal problems at the moment he did not intend to request Soviet troops to evacuate. He said perhaps eventually his govt might ask them to leave but that would have to be considered later.

His comment regarding Kurdish situation which followed above and concluded interview will be reported by separate telegram.82

Sent Dept as 15; Tehran as 21, London and Moscow as 9.

Rossow
  1. Not printed.
  2. No. 18, February 6, not printed.