761.91/7–3047: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Clark) to the Secretary of State
4154. From long informal talk July 29 with Pyman Iran DO Embassy gathers that Le Rougetel’s thinking described Tehran’s 679 [681], July 26, represents his own rather than Foreign Office views. It does not appear that Foreign Office “which has a great deal on its plate at the moment” has taken time to do any hard thinking lately re Iranian problems generally or re Qavam’s handling oil agreement in particular.
2. Pyman himself rejects as absurd idea that Soviet concession northern Iran would reduce likelihood of pressure for cancellation of British and eventually American oil concessions on the Persian Gulf. He doubts whether many persons seriously entertain this view. His own thinking is virtually that of Ambassador Allen.
3. Pyman believes personally that USSR is obsessed by idea that American and/or British might move into northern Iran and use it as a base for attack against USSR. This causes Pyman to reason that Soviet fears this score might be calmed to some extent if Majlis in turning down Soviet oil agreement would couple with turn-down a statement to the effect that if it ever did approve an oil agreement for northern Iran, this would be made with USSR and not with either US or UK. Pyman said that he had not passed this idea of his “up the line” but he felt such a proviso might in a degree minimize rather childish fears of Soviet General Staff re attack from Iran.
Repeated Moscow 258; Tehran 59.