840.20/3–1649: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union
us urgent
160. Dept has under consideration possible issuance at time conclusion North Atlantic Pact of statement expressing interest US in security all areas world and especially security Greece, Turkey and Iran. Statement would probably say attack on those three countries would be “matter of grave concern” to us. Wld probably refer to Atlantic Pact but wld not be directly connected with it.
Wiley1 has indicated fear such statement might provoke aggressive Soviet action against Iran, and Brit Amb Tehran has reported even more strongly his fears that Soviets would view it as reason or pretext for invoking 1921 treaty and occupation Azerbaijan.
Brit Govt has been urging issuance proposed declaration by US and UK re Greece and Turkey and recently agreed include Iran but has reversed position and is presently opposed to declaration and especially to inclusion Iran. Understand position re Iran determined by fears Soviet reaction as suggested by Le Rougetel.2
Urgently request your views probable USSR reaction to declaration type indicated.