Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

891.00/1–1246: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan)

secret
us urgent

Washington, February 6, 1946—7 p.m.

232. Urtel 53, Jan. 12.⁸³ In view of statements by Soviet Emb Tehran that calm prevails in Azerbaijan, please request appropriate Soviet authorities to instruct Soviet military and diplomatic representatives in Iran to issue passes for travel in northern Iran to Arthur [Joseph] Goodwin of AP (urtel 132, Jan. 29⁸³) and such other accredited American correspondents who may wish to visit Azerbaijan for purpose of reporting to newspapers in this country.⁸⁴

Sent to Moscow, repeated to Tehran.

Byrnes

83. This telegram came from Tehran.
83. This telegram came from Tehran.
84. According to Moscow’s telegram 442, February 14, such a request was made in a letter to the Soviet Foreign Office (811.91291/2–1446). In telegram 240, February 26, 1946, 10 a.m., from Tehran, the Department was informed that the Soviet Consul had instructions to issue no permits to foreign correspondents to visit northern Iran since they would write “silly” stories on the situation there (811.91291/2–2646).