891.6363/10–2347: Telegram
The Ambassador in Iran (Allen) to the Secretary of State
1031. Majlis of Iran has refused Soviet oil proposals. After 18 months of delays and uncertainty the decision came with dramatic suddenness last night when Chamber voted 102 to 2 that the letters signed by Prime Minister Qavam and Soviet Ambassador Sadchikoff on April 4, 1946 made null and void.1
Prime Minister Qavam made last minute effort to delay final vote but the determination of deputies to take immediate action was irresistible. Qavam opened session with full report regarding Soviet petroleum demands beginning with his visit to Moscow in January 1946. [Page 970] After the report which required more than two hours to present leading member of Qavam’s party and chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee Dr. Reza Shaffaq proposed immediate passage of a law declaring the April 4 agreement null and void, providing for petroleum exploration to be carried out by Iranian Government during next five years and stating that if existence of petroleum in commercial quantities is proved the Government may enter into negotiations for sale of petroleum to Soviet Union.
Qavam then made final plea against hasty action. He said that if Chamber wished to reject exchange of letters of April 4, it should do so in manner which would not close door against further negotiations with USSR. For this reason he objected to Shaffaq’s request that his bill be considered under double priority which would permit its being voted on immediately without reference to Standing Committee. After brief debate the speaker put the question of priority to voice vote which carried by large majority. Promptly thereafter the Shaffaq proposal was put to secret ballot. One blank ballot was cast and one abstention which accounts for the two votes counted against proposal. It is not known what deputies cast these ballots.
Definite action by Majlis on this most controversial and difficult problem is highly gratifying. It remains to be seen what form Soviet reaction will take. Secondary question is effect which vote will have on present Government. I have just returned from presenting Congressmen Bolton and Merrow to Qavam and found him evidently relieved and pleased that the question had advanced thus far. Any uneasiness he may have regarding either Soviet reaction or his own future was well disguised.
Sent Department; Department pass Moscow as 122, repeated London 137.
- The text of the legislation enacted by the Majlis on October 22 was transmitted by the Embassy in Tehran in despatch 539, October 29 (891.6363/10–2947).↩