891.00/8–646: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:07 p.m.]
1080. Recent reshuffle of Iranian Government,78 while apparently sudden, has been in Qavam’s mind for 2 months or more. Following agreement with Pishevari in June, Qavam said he might take one or two Tudeh members and an Azerbaijani into Cabinet. When he decided to move, however, he did so very swiftly, taking his Cabinet, Shah and country completely by surprise. While no representative of Tabriz government has yet been added, it is still possible that Pishevari, or one of his associates, will be given portfolio soon.
I feel confident change of Ministers resulted from Qavam’s belief he can handle Tudeh Party better inside Government than out and from his effort to absorb Tudeh organization into his political party. However, Secretary Rossow, who was in Azerbaijan during development of puppet regime there, points out many similarities between sequence of events there and here, and thinks Qavam has already lost control of situation.
First state [stage] in Azerbaijan was formation of Tudeh. Second was formation Democrats of Azerbaijan, which appeared to oppose Tudeh at start and consequently attracted considerable number fairly respectable followers on this basis. Third stage (which is one we are just entering in Tehran) was union of Tudeh and Democrats of Azerbaijan forces. Result was complete domination of Government by better organized, financed and supported Soviet agents.
Rossow feels situation in remainder of Iran has now gone so far full Soviet domination of whole country is inevitable and Qavam could not retrieve situation, even if he exerted his utmost.
Many similarities between developments in Azerbaijan and those taking place in Tehran are evident. However, there are also differences [Page 511] which furnish basis for belief situation here is not irretrievably lost. Outstanding consideration is Qavam’s continued support of Schwarzkopf Mission which is anathema to Tudeh Party. Moreover, there are no Russian speaking agents from Caucasus in high position here. Azerbaijan group established themselves in power behind Soviet bayonets but no such entrenchment of Tudeh has been possible here.
I regard situation as gloomy but by no means desperate.
- In telegram 1062, August 2, 10 a.m., the Ambassador in Iran had reported a reshuffling of the Qavam Cabinet to admit three Tudeh leaders as Ministers of Health, of Education, and of Commerce and Industry. A fourth Cabinet post—the Ministry of Justice—had been given to an individual who had recently agreed to collaborate with the Tudeh Party and was generally recognized as virtually a party member. (891.002/8–246)↩