Office of the Historian

501.BC/11–348: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, at Paris

secret   us urgent
Washington, November 5, 1948—7 p. m.

Gadel 413. Bohlen from Lovett. We note your conviction that it would be mistake to raise Soviet-Iran relations before SC Paris in absence of demonstrable urgency for doing so this particular time (Delga 587 Nov 31 and Delga 586 Nov 32) and that you will take no initiative in approaching Iranians.

Dept defers to Del judgment this question and will take no further steps vis-à-vis Iranians for present. However, we consider matter should be kept in mind and we and Iranians should be prepared act promptly if occasion arises. Would like call to your attention Moscow tel 568 Nov 33 to Paris, which we heartily endorse, and Tehran tels 28 and 31, Oct 29 and Nov 3.4 Incidents reported Tehran reftels could become extremely serious and create urgent situation on short notice. Accordingly, if approached by Iran reps Paris this subject, suggest you explain to them we still interested in suggested démarche at proper time and discuss form and content of communications to be presented to make sure Iran approach would be in line our thinking. It would be desirable for us to see Iran draft in advance to make sure it does not introduce complicating factors such as (re Deptel 361 to Gadel5) appeal to SC for action to revise 1921 Treaty. Dept considers communication should be for Council’s info only, as in case of Iran note of Dec 1946 re Azerbaijan, although we realize Soviets or other members might conceivably call for debate and that Iran might later ask action if situation aggravated.6

Lovett
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. Not printed; it was a repeat of telegram 23 from Mr. Bohlen to Ambassador Wiley (501.BC/11–348).↩
  3. This was a repeat of 2527 to the Department, supra.↩
  4. Neither printed; they reported border incidents involving attacks by Soviet military forces on Iranian troops and Soviet penetration of Iranian territory. These telegrams were repeated to the Department as 1239 and 1256 and are filed under 701.91/10–2948 and 861.2391/11–348, respectively.↩
  5. Dated October 29; it was a repeat of 1021 to Tehran, p. 190.↩
  6. This telegram was repeated to Tehran, Moscow, and London.↩