891.00/11–2446: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 2:08 p.m.]
1517. PriMin Qavam informed me today that he had definitely determined to send security forces into Azerbaijan21 and that if the authorities there resist (and he expects they will), he will appeal to Security Council for assistance. In response to my inquiry he said perhaps 2 or 3 weeks would be required to despatch the forces and bring matters to head. He contemplates making immediate appeal to SC whenever fighting starts.
I pointed out that SC concerns itself with matters threatening international peace. He said he was aware of this and that if fighting broke out in Northern Iran he would inform Council that situation existed which might endanger world peace. I asked specifically whether he had in mind any appeal or statement to General Assembly, possibly informing that body of action he was taking to reassert Iranian sovereignty over Azerbaijan. He replied in negative, stating that his appeal would be to Security Council where, he said, Iranian case was fortunately still on agenda.
[Page 548]I reminded him that last April lie had informed SC that all differences between Iran and Soviet Union had been settled and that there was no longer any case for SC to consider. I said Soviet representative on Council would be certain to cite this statement of Iranian Govt and that consequently Iranians would need new evidence of interference or threat to peace as answer to Soviet argument. He said his appeal, if made, would present new evidence.
In order to obtain this he was thinking of sending 1,000 soldiers to Azerbaijan, 500 to be concerned with elections and 500 to patrol Soviet border to seize Soviet agents or supplies coming south.
As regards type of assistance SC would render, Qavam realized troops could probably not be sent to aid Iran but he felt Iran must bring to Council’s attention situation which threatened peace and leave it to Council to determine what assistance it would render. He hoped members of Council would at least show their approval of Iranian Govt’s efforts to maintain its sovereignty.
At end of conversation I said I wanted to inform my Govt specifically regarding situation. He said “I will send troops to Azerbaijan, there will inevitably be fighting, consequently the probabilities are very strong that Iran will appeal to Security Council for aid soon.”
Since we have been urging Iran and other UN members to base their policy on UN, I hope Department will again feel in position to support Iran’s case strongly if presented. While every effort must be made to assure that case presented is strong one and that Iranian Govt goes through with it wholeheartedly, Qavam appreciates difficulties he placed US in last time and I do not think he will repeat his previous performance. He said he would like to coordinate his plans with US in closest detail when he prepares appeal.
- In telegram 1514, November 22, 1 p.m., the Ambassador had reported the issuance of a proclamation by the Prime Minister stating that elections would be held in various districts when security forces of the Iranian Government were present in those districts. The proclamation was obviously issued with Azerbaijan primarily in mind but did not specifically mention that province. Previously the Prime Minister had intended to send civilian inspectors to observe the elections in Azerbaijan, hoping thereby to establish a basis for refusing to admit Soviet-controlled Deputies to the Majlis. (891.00/11–2246)↩