خارجي ٤١/٥٠٠٠(٢) "بلاد فارس: الوضع قبيل احتلال الحلفاء، وما بعده" [و‎‎١‎٥] (٦٠٦/٢٩)

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With the Commerits
of the f
Under Secretary •f l 8tatfcj
for Foreign Affa
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[This telegram is of particul ^
retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].
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[CYPHER]
M Ci^B IIIST DISTRIBU TION.
FROM: SOVIET Ul'ilON.
FROM MOSCOW TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
Sir S. Cripps,
No, 1048 .
30th August, 1941.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
D. 6.30 p.m., 30th August, 1941.
R. 2.10 a.m., 31st August, 1941.
3 3 3
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When I saw Vyshinski last night he showed me on Ms
map the new line of demarcation for which they had asked,
and explained some of their reasons for it. As regards
the Caspian littoral to the east of the point suggested
by His Majesty's Government, he said that there were
certain difficulties as to fishing rights; and as regards
the easterly area making a salient to the south, he
explained that there were in this area certain mining
rights for petroleum which they had had difficulty in
arranging to develop with Persia.
2. I told him that this was a. matter to be settled
in London, and that I did not propose to butt in on it.
3. I should, however, like to express the opinion
that any prolonged occupation of this northern part of
Persia by Russia is likely to be dangerous, especially if
they have in mind such things as Vyshinski mentioned.
Once established there, a whole host of incidents may
crop up, each of which will lead to their continued
occupation.
4. In view of our quite definite statement that
all we went in for was to get the Germans out, I fear that
we may be led into a continued occupation to counterbalance ’ Wtf
occupation^for^a long period, and without any honest
justification for it on the basis of our own statement at
the outset.
5. Would it not be possible to limit the period of
occupation, subject to compliance by the Persians, with
our original demands? I observe from your telegram No. 575 _
to Tehran that while we are proposing to demancT from the
Persians an undertaking to 1? maintain a policy of neutrality",
we are also proposing £o insist on their facilitating transit
of war material across territory: and that, while the
Persian Government are to expel che Germans within a week,
our withdrawal is not to take place till "the military
situation permits" - a very elastic phrase. It thus seems
clear that even His Majesty's Government themselves are
tending to drift away from their attitude towards Persia
as/