Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

891.796/10–846: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Iran (Allen)

secret
us urgent

Washington, October 8, 1946—7 p.m.

844. Ur 1293, Sept 30 and 1294, Sept 30.⁹⁴ We are deeply concerned your reports Iranian Govt giving favorable consideration to Russian request that an aviation company with 50 percent Russian participation be organized for servicing Northern Iran.

We feel that in granting such request Iranian Govt would greatly facilitate realization of what appears to be Soviet plans absorb Northern Iran into Soviet sphere. Such a company would be certain to pass under full Soviet control and with Soviet support would be able without difficulty to eliminate all competitors and obtain monopoly on what promises to become most important means communication and transport in Northern Iran. Manner in which Russians exploit monopoly this kind is illustrated by way in which they decided on political basis who could travel by air between Tehran and Tabriz on Soviet controlled airlines during recent Azerbaijan crisis.

We are endeavoring live up to our assurances to support independence and territorial integrity Iran but responsibility for maintaining such independence and integrity rests primarily on Govt Iran. If Iranian Govt has not ability or courage to resist demands from abroad for concessions, granting of which is likely to result in impairment Iranian sovereignty or integrity, our difficulties in living up to our assurances are enhanced.⁹⁵

Furthermore granting of such concession may eventually prejudice operation US trunk lines through Iran and establishment direct air communications other than those controlled by Russians between Iran and Afghanistan.

You may discuss this matter in your discretion with appropriate Iranian officials.

Sent Tehran; repeated London, Moscow and Paris.

Acheson

94. No. 1294 not printed; it reported Ambassador Allen’s understanding that the Iranian Cabinet might approve the request of the Soviet Union for a “50–50 aviation company” to exercise a monopoly of routes in northern Iran. The Ambassador noted that Prime Minister Qavam might be urged to yield to the request since he contemplated strong action against Azerbaijan “soon”. (891.00/9–3046)
95. In telegram 1331, October 7, 1946, Ambassador Allen had quoted Qavam as saying that there had been no recent developments regarding proposal made to him some time before by the Soviet Union for establishment of a joint Iran-Soviet company to be given monopoly of commercial aviation in northern Iran, that Iranian Government had made a counterproposal two months ago offering the Soviet Union 25 percent ownership, but that nothing had been heard of it since. Mr. Allen indicated that this was entirely contrary to reports from highly responsible sources that Qavam was on the point of agreeing to original Soviet proposal. The Ambassador also commented that the recent excitement about the proposed aviation agreement may have resulted from discussions between junior Soviet and Iranian officials without the Prime Minister’s knowledge. (891.796/10–746)