611.88/8–1450: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iran 1
305. Urtel 381 Aug 14.2 Dept appreciates ur analysis present Sov activities Iran and concurs.
We do not believe present Sov activities in Iran form part any global policy but are designed solely as part ceaseless attempt by one means or another wean Iran away from west and eventually create new satellite.
Sov policy towards Iran since end of war has been alternatively hard and soft accompanied by continuous propaganda, border incidents and internal subversion. Assumption arises confusion of Sov pol is deliberate and designed keep Iran in constant state turmoil with little chance internal stability. Furthermore Iran now has for first time Gov which cannot be intimidated by dipl notes and Sovs have probably reached conclusion bullying tactics will not work while ostensibly friendly offer help Iran may, as is certainly possible, be welcomed by many Irans fearful of future and skeptical of US assistance to such an extent that no Govt eld stay in office which pursued pol openly hostile to Sovs and aligned with US.
- Repeated to Moscow.↩
- Not printed; in it Grady reported that Russian eagerness to appear as the friends of Iran was primarily part of the peace offensive, but also, to a large degree, a response to the activities of the United States in Iran which were “beginning to disturb the Russians a great deal.” (611.88/8–1450)↩