Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

740.00119 Council/1–346

Memorandum by the United Kingdom Delegation at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers⁷⁹

Moscow, December 20, 1945.

Persia

If the Soviet Government agree to the appointment of a Commission of the Three Powers to advise the Persian Government on the introduction of provincial government according to the Persian Constitution, the following points might serve as the essential nucleus of the terms of reference.

1. The Commission to keep in mind the undertaking given by Great Britain and Soviet Russia in the Treaty of January, 1942, to respect the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Persia.

2. The recommendations of the Commission (which must receive the approval of the three Governments before being submitted to the Persian Government) to cover the whole of Persia, including Azerbaijan.

3. Existing laws amplifying the relevant provision of the Constitution to be taken as the point of departure, but the Commission to recommend any amendments which seem to be required, especially in regard to the elections to the local Councils, the powers and duties of the Councils, and the manner in which they are to be furnished with funds.

4. The Commission shall also make recommendations as to the use of the minority languages, such as Arabic, Turkish and Kurdish for educational and other purposes.

5. The Three Powers will request the Persian Government to pass into law and to put into execution the recommendations put forward by the Commission.

6. The first provincial elections shall be carried out under the supervision of the Commission.

(Note: These provisions are designed to bring the Azerbaijan question into proportion with the general problem of provincial reform. Unless this is done Azerbaijan will be on the one hand sufficiently independent to work hand in glove with Russia and on the other sufficiently “within the framework of the Persian State” to exercise a highly disturbing influence throughout the country. The Commission may of course find it necessary to recommend special concession for Azerbaijan and for Khuzistan, which is mainly an Arab province.)

79. This memorandum was prepared by Sir Reader Bullard, member of the British delegation; a copy was given to the United States delegation on December 21.