501.BC/5–646: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Stettinius) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:15 p.m.]
147. For Acheson, Henderson and Hiss.21 The following letter from the Iranian Ambassador22 was received by Trygve Lie at 9 p.m., Daylight Time, May 6th. This text was received by telephone:
“Sir: On the 4 April, 1946, the Security Council resolved ‘that the Council defer further proceedings on the Iranian appeal until 6 May 1946, at which time the Soviet Government and the Iranian Government were requested to report to the Council whether the withdrawal of all Soviet troops from the whole of Iran has been completed and [Page 451] at which time the Council shall consider what, if any, further proceedings on the Iranian appeal are required. …’
The Iranian appeal set forth in the letter of 18 March 1946 related to two matters which it was stated were likely to endanger international peace and security. The first of these referred to the maintenance of Soviet troops on Iranian territory after 2 March 1946; and the second (which was first presented to the Council at its meetings in London) referred to Soviet interference in the internal affairs of Iran.
With respect to the withdrawal of troops, the Soviet Union has officially informed the Security Council that the evacuation would be completed during a period of one-and-one-half months from 24 March 1946.
For the reasons hereinafter stated, it is impossible for me to make a complete report at this time. On the basis of the information received by me from my government up to 5 o’clock this afternoon, I am able, however, to present to the Council the following report.
Soviet troops have now been completely evacuated from the Provvinces of Khorassan, Gorgan, Mazanderan and Gilan. This information is based upon investigation made by responsible officials of the Government of Iran.
So far as the Province of Azerbaijan is concerned, the Government has been informed through other sources that the evacuation of Soviet troops from that Province has been going forward and it is said will have been completed before 7 May 1946. These reports have not been verified by direct observation of officials of the Iranian Government. The reason for this is that, as previously pointed out to the Council, the Iranian Government has been unable, because of the interference complained of, to exercise effective authority within Azerbaijan since 7 November 1945, and from that time to the present has had no opportunity to ascertain through its own officials what are the conditions prevailing throughout that Province.
While it is hoped that arrangements can be made which will remove the unfortunate results of the interference complained of, it is impossible to forecast at this time with certainty what the subsequent developments will be. As soon as the Iranian Government is able to ascertain through its official representative the true state of affairs in the Province of Azerbaijan, the facts will be reported promptly to the Council.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
Hussein Ala
Iranian Ambassador.
His Excellency
Dr. Hafez Afifi
Pasha
President of the Security Council.”