891.002/10–1946: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received October 20—10:33 a.m.]
1390. [Here follows an account of the changes in the Qavam cabinet.3]
… new Cabinet is primarily straight Qavam Party government, in contrast to previous coalition government. Its formation has resulted from combination of circumstances, but primarily from realization by Qavam that collaboration with Tudeh was not possible. My representations to Qavam on October 11th regarding loss of independence of [Page 537] his Government4 and British Ambassador’s insistent advice and warning against collaboration with Tudeh in forthcoming elections have helped bring about decision. Tudeh Cabinet members angered Qavam by truculent attitude they took against settlement of Fars revolt and by inordinate demands they made for control of forthcoming Majlis. Soviet Ambassador overplayed his hand and used threatening tone in recent conversations with Qavam. These and other considerations have convinced Qavam that his efforts to maintain coalition government could not continue and that he must make a clear-cut break with Tudeh. He will try to avoid open break with Moscow, and Muzzafar Firuz is slated to go to Moscow as Ambassador.
I do not believe Tudeh Party will accept Qavam’s decision quietly. While it may take several days or even weeks before their full reaction is felt, I have no doubt they will attempt to organize demonstrations and serious disturbances may result. All Qavam’s powers of manipulation will be needed to prevent Azerbaijan from breaking into armed hostilities. Soviet reaction against him will probably be violent, in spite of his efforts to conciliate USSR.
New Cabinet is very considerable improvement over former one. It is fortunate that change came about on Qavam’s own initiative since serious difficulties which would have risen if Shah had had to force change on Qavam have been avoided.
Repeated London 173 and Moscow 295.
- In telegram 1384, October 18, 11 a.m., Ambassador Alien reported discussions between the Shah and Prime Minister Qavam on the formation of a new government. He noted that the situation had been brought to a head as a result of the Prime Minister’s decision three days before to replace the Governor of Tehran, a Tudeh sympathizer, with a member of his Democrats of Iran Party and that the three Tudeh members of the Cabinet objected strongly and absented themselves from the Cabinet meeting of October 18. The Ambassador concluded that the Prime Minister was taking advantage of the situation to try to eliminate them from the Cabinet. (891.00/10–1846)↩
- In telegram 1354, October 12, noon, Ambassador Allen reported that he had brought to the attention of the Iranian Prime Minister the facts that immediately after a recent Cabinet meeting discussing the aviation agreement with the Soviet Union, a member of the Cabinet had informed the Soviet Embassy of the exact position taken by each member and that within 24 hours a Soviet official had demanded of a Cabinet member why he had opposed Soviet interests. Mr. Allen pointed out to the Prime Minister that “when such conditions existed, it was obvious that present Government of Iran had no freedom or independence and that we might as well recognize the fact and cease pretending.” (701.0091/10–1246)↩