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that the decision represented the will of the Persian people. At a secret session^
of the Majlis only one Deputy, Taimurtash, son of the former Minister of Court,
who was elected to the Majlis with Russian help, spoke in favour of the Russian
request. Even the Tudeh members, who were for the Russians, at first showed
embarrassment, because some weeks earlier, when it was only a question of British
or American requests for concessions, they themselves had recommended that no
concession be given till after the war. ^
6. The Persian Government’s decision was followed by a violent campaign^
in the pro-Russian press against Sa’id, whom they accused of being opposed to
Russian interests and of adopting a one-sided policy. They argued that the
balance in foreign relations upset by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s concession
in the south must be restored by giving the Russians a concession in the north.
It was even said that, as Russia did not need more oil, her demand was prompted
solely by the altruistic desire to help Persia by developing her resources and pro
viding employment for her people. Few newspapers had yet dared to come out
on the side of the Government in this dispute, but as public opposition to the
grant of a concession gradually hardened a number of them plucked up courage
and began to oppose the Russian demand, in spite of the fact that the editors of
the first three papers to do so were threatened by the Russians. In some quarters,
however, it was feared that Sa’id might have to resign in the face of the violent
Russian opposition, and Taqizadeh. Persian Ambassador in London, now on a
visit to Tehran, was mentioned as a successor. The Shah, indeed, was said to be
urging Taqizadeh to accept the premiership, but Taqizadeh, after attending a
number of conferences to discuss Persia’s post-war problems, returned to London
on the 28th October.
7. On the 19th October Sa’id made a statement in the Majlis explaining and
defending the Government’s attitude, and although no vote was taken, there was
no doubt that he had the House with him on this issue. The Russians, meanwhile,
continued every form of pressure and intensified their war of nerves. They allowed
no grain to be moved to Tehran on the Northern Railways. They interrupted
telegraphic communication with Tabriz for a few days. On the 22nd October
lorry loads of armed Russian troops were seen in the streets and in particular near
the Majlis. Deputies were subjected to pressure. Violent attacks on the Prime
Minister continued, and in a broadcast from Tehran, which purported to be by
the Persian-Soviet Cultural Society, the Soviet Embassy^ broadcast the Soviet
point of view in a most violent form. Moscow radio and papers proclaimed that
the Persian Government’s decision was not based on public opinion and that the
Persian press was in favour of the Russian demand for a concession. Sa’id and
his supporters were, of course, described as Fascists. Finally, the story was put
alTout that the Russians considered that their relations with Sa’id’s Government
were severed. In the circumstances Sa’id was prepared to go, to provide a way out
of the deadlock, but the Majlis remained solidly behind him and the Shah was as
yet opposed to his resignation.
8. On the 24th October Kavtaradze gave an interview to the Tehran press,
in which, after describing in vague terms the advantages to Persia of granting
a concession to the Russians, he stated that Sa’id had originally signified complete
agreement and promised his help, but that his subsequent refusal had strained
relations between Persia and Russia. Sa’id’s reply to this was that in the talks
to which Kavtaradze referred only the Khourian oil business had been mentioned.
In reply to a question put by one of the journalists as to the conditions offered by
the Russians, M. Kavtaradze said that that would be discussed afterwards. He
thereby confirmed the statement of M. Sa’id that M. Kavtaradze had insisted on
the concession being granted in principle without consideration of any conditions
except the areas demanded by the Soviet Government first for exploration and
then for development.
9. On the 27th October a demonstration organised by the Tudeh was held
in the streets of Tehran. The crowd was accompanied by lorries of armed
Russian soldiers. Various Tudeh leaders made speeches demanding the removal
of Sa’id and the grant of the concession to the Russians. The effect on public
opinion was, however, the reverse of what was intended and merely aroused
indignation against the Russians and the Tudeh. By now, too, some six or seven
newspapers had come out strongly in favour of the Government, the Bakhtar, in
particular, urging the Russians not to be misled by Persian quislings, and pointing
out that the Persians did not expect such treatment after they had given all
possible assistance to the Allies in their war effort. The Government was also
moved to action by these events, and a warning was issued by the Military
Governor that the regulation forbidding gatherings of more than three persons in