701.6191/4–2448: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
431. Press yesterday alleged Soviet Ambassador delivered note to Prime Minister during visit mentioned mytels 422 April 21 and 430 April 23.1 Military Attaché Sexton was told in greatest confidence by General Razmara, Chief of Staff, yesterday that while the Soviet Ambassador did not deliver a note, Iranian Foreign Office actually received a note from the Soviet Embassy on same day as visit. Razmara also said that substance of note was very alarming. He added however, that he had not seen the note. Later Military Attaché endeavored verify foregoing in conversation with General Ahmedi, Minister of Interior, but latter stated that he knew of no such note.
In conversations with Embassy Staff both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have made no references whatever to receipt such note; [Page 142] in fact, Prime Minister stated (Embtel 430) that the Soviet Ambassador’s visit was purely a protocol matter.
Subject will be pursued and Department kept informed. Sexton is seeing Razmara again today [to?] seek confirmation of foregoing.2
- Neither printed. The former indicated that the Soviet Ambassador had called on Prime Minister Hakimi and Foreign Minister Nouri-Esfandiari on April 19 (701.6191/4–2148). The latter reported information from the Prime Minister that “there was nothing of particular interest in either conversation and that, in fact, the two calls were similar in character to those Soviet Ambassador might have made had he called three months ago at the beginning of this government.” (701.6191/4–2348)↩
- Tehran, on April 24, advised of information from Chief of Staff Razmara that the Soviet note was brief, referred to the occupation of Iran in 1941 and stated that the Soviet Union considered that its security was again being menaced. It also rejected “energetically” the Iranian note of April 1, p. 127. (telegram 433, 761.91/4–2448).↩