761.91/3–2449: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran ( Wiley ) to the Secretary of State
361. Colonel Drury, Military Attaché and I lunched with HSO 1 today. He informed us frontier incident reported Embtel 342, March 22,2 had assumed more serious aspect. Soviet political officer conferred with his opposite number Iranian forces and demanded that Iranian forces withdraw from “Soviet territory” to line south of Neftelidje by 6 p. m. yesterday. Otherwise Soviet forces would attack. Soviet forces had been reinforced by 500 men and 10 tanks. HSO sent orders that no Iranian soldier was to withdraw. If Red Army wished to attack it could attack. HSO directed that Russians be informed that frontier forces had no authority to discuss frontier [Page 496] boundaries. Any question on this score would have to be raised through proper channels with government in Tehran. Iranian forces were re inforced by two infantry companies with machine gun section.
HSO stated that in spite of Soviet ultimatum and expiration of time limit there had been no further aggression from Soviet side. HSO added that text of Iranian protest handed to Soviet Ambassador Tehran has been telegraphed to Iranian Embassy Moscow for Soviet Government.
HSO very pleased that firmness Iran position re incident has so far successfully prevailed. He describes Soviet initiative as “bluff”. Please pass to Army.3
Sent Department 361, repeated London 73, Moscow 44.
- General Razmara.↩
- Not printed; it reported that on March 21
an Iranian patrol of three men proceeding from Neftelidje to
Cenkertepe, in the frontier area east of the Caspian, was
attacked by 50 Soviet cavalrymen. One Iranian soldier was killed
and the remaining two were taken prisoner. The Iranian
Government lodged a pro test with the Soviet Ambassador and the
commander of the Gurgan District protested to the Soviet Consul
at Gurgan. General Razmara categorically denied the Soviet
allegation that the patrol was in Soviet territory.
(761.91/3–2249)
The Soviet forces released the two Iranian soldiers “fully armed and in good condition” three weeks later. (Telegram 483, April 11, 4 p. m., from Tehran, 761.91/4–1149)
↩ - In telegram M–433, March 30, to the Departments
of State, Air, and Navy, Colonel Drury cited the following
actions as reflecting a worsening of Soviet-Iranian relations:
the recent intensification of Soviet radio propaganda against
Iran; the Soviet note demanding that Iran close its Consulate in
Baku and announcing Soviet intention of closing all of its
Consulates in Iran because of the “hostile Iranian attitude
toward USSR;” the incidents in Gurgan on March 21 and later
involving the “shooting of Iranian soldiers and ultimatum and
threats backed up by considerable show of Soviet force;”
intensified maneuvers near Baku in full view of the Iranian
border; and reported but unconfirmed rumors concerning increased
troop and rail movements in the Caucasus. (761.91/3–3049)
Tehran had reported, on March 18, that “several days ago Iran Government received reply from Soviet Government to notes requesting that Soviet Consular representation in Iran be reduced to basis strict reciprocity. Soviet reply announces that all Soviet Consulates in Iran will be closed. Soviet note calls for closing Iran Consulate Baku, which is sole Iran Consulate Soviet Union.” (Telegram 326, 702.6191/3–1849)
Foreign Minister HekmaT, in a press conference on June 5, announced that an agreement had been reached between Iran and the Soviet Union to close one another’s Consulates in both countries (telegram 749, June 6, from Tehran, 702.6169/0–649).
↩