Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎48v] (96/248)

a scheme by the American Director of Road Transport for the management of
road transport in the north. The Soviet Ambassador promised to study this, but
he was guarded and tended to throw doubt on the need for Americans. Never
theless, the local Russian authorities show signs of departing from their complete
obstruction of the activities of the Millspaugh Mission in their zone. They
seem more disposed in fact to co-operate with the local American transport
representatives, notwithstanding the unforthcoming reception given by the Soviet v
Ambassador to the American Charge d’Aft'aires’ approach. Again, che American
at last admitted to Azerbaijan for grain collection seems to have been left a free
hand by the Russians. It is true that they remain aloof from the work of local
collection but they have offered to help with the long-distance haulage of grain
southwards. Yet again, the American Director of Finance in Meshed, for whom
the Russians have given a delayed and grudging residence permit, reports good
co-operation by the local Russian authorities.
5. On the other hand, the examination by the Soviet section of the Tripartite
Censorship of Persia of British and American books and periodicals has recently
exceeded all bounds, and the British section have found torn wrappers addressed
to His Majesty’s Embassy, the American Embassy, other diplomatic missions of
countries in relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Dr. Millspaugh
and various Persian Government departments. The British section of the
Censorship, in consultation with His Majesty's Embassy and Censorship, Middle
East, have taken up the matter strongly and the Soviet section have promised,
subject to approval by higher authority, not to interefere with books and
periodicals addressed to bodies such as those described above or to British and
American nationals. An opportunity has been taken of examining the publica
tions recently condemned, and while a few condemnations are clearly reasonable,
the majority can be described as frivolous. The Soviet censors are in future to be
required to show cause why a book should not be delivered to the addressee, and
when they cannot be persuaded to withdraw their objections, the book will be
returned to the sender. The whole question is still under active consideration by
the British authorities concerned.
6. Finally, Soviet obstructionism reached its climax at the end of June
when the Soviet authorities, in spite of strong pressure by His Majesty’s Embassy,
delayed to grant permission for Sir Olaf Caroe and Sir Denys Pilditch to fly to
Meshed (where the Government of India have large interests) until the visitors
had left on their return journey to India. (Their visit to Persia is described in the
Indian Section of this despatch.)
7. However, the foregoing paragraphs, generally speaking, give an unduly
gloomy view of Anglo-American-Soviet relations in this country. Persia is the
one country where British, American and Soviet military and civil authorities
meet on a broad land front, and the many day-to-day contacts proceed smoothly,
or at any rate smoothly enough for the despatch of business.
Relations with India.
8. The Persian Cultural Mission which travelled to India in February
returned to Persia in April. They professed to have been delighted at their
reception both in official and non-official circles and greatly impressed by what
they saw. In particular, they were impressed by the enormous number of valuable
Persian manuscripts in India—exceeding anything to be found in Persia itself;
by university, school and public buildings; by "the vast progress made in industry;
by the fact that the majority of ministers are Indians and that British and
Indian officials work side by side, sometimes one being senior and sometimes the
other; and by the high morale of the Indian people as a whole in the face of the
| Axis Powers. Most of these points may seem obvious, but they are not obvious to
the Persians, who like to regard the Indians as a nation of helots trodden down by
the British, and the mission has undoubtedly had a beneficial effect, particularly
as its members have been emphasising these points in speeches and broadcasts since
their return.
9. Four members of the Indian Defence Consultative Committee travelled to
Persia in May to visit the Indian troops here.
10. Sir' Olaf Caroe, Secretary to the External Affaire Department of
the Government of India, and Sir Denys Pilditch, Director of Intelligence of the
Home Department of the Government of India, arrived in Persia on the
27th June to stay at His Majesty’s Embassy and discuss problems of mutual
interest. They were also entertained by the Persian Government. They left on
the 2nd July.