761.91/4–1548

The Embassy of the Soviet Union in Iran to the Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs 1

The Embassy of the U.S.S.R. in Iran, in reply to your note of 22nd March, has the honor to bring to the attention of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that, according to information received by this Embassy, Professor Steinberg’s speech was mainly a description of the policy carried out in Iran with regard to the U.S.S.R. The violation of the Russo-Iranian oil agreement is a part of that policy.

Professor Steinberg in his speech made reference to the Irano-American agreement of October 6, 1947, and the activities of the American military missions in Iran. In connection with these, he made statements which are based on facts already mentioned in the note of the Soviet Ambassador to the Iranian Prime Minister dated 31st January of the current year, which was also published in the newspapers.

It is obvious that the statements made by a representative of public opinion or representative of the Soviet press about the hostile policy followed in Iran with regard to the U.S.S.R. cannot be a subject for protest by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Furthermore, the Soviet Embassy draws the attention of the Ministry to the belligerently libelous propaganda launched by a great number of Tehran newspapers against the U.S.S.R. For example, during the period from January to March, the newspapers Tehrani [Page 134] Mossavar, Atesh, Arezoo, Saba, Sedaye-Vatan, etc., have been constantly making libelous statements on the internal and foreign policy of the U.S.S.R., and have alleged that the U.S.S.R. had aggressive plans against Iran and other countries. They have also published caricatures against the U.S.S.R. and its authorities.

The Embassy of the U.S.S.R. expects the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take necessary steps for prevention of the hostile and libelous propaganda carried out in Iran against the U.S.S.R.

  1. Translation by the Embassy in Iran based on version appearing in the Tehran press; transmitted to the Department by Tehran in despatch 108, April 15. An earlier rendition, also based on the version appearing in the press, was transmitted by Tehran in telegram 366, April 8, not printed (761.91/4–848).