Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎361v] (722/749)

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frontier posts on the Persian-Turkish border present great difficulties for them
and in spite of repeated proposals by Soviet officials in this respect they have
refused to protect this frontier. Under these circumstances the objections raised
by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs about the absence of gendarmerie posts on the
Persian-Turkish border cannot be considered relevant.
The statement to the effect that Soviet authorities appear to have interfered
in the judicial affairs of Persians and to have prevented the enforcement of they«w
penal code with regard to Persian subjects is very surprising in view of there -
being no foundation for such a statement and its inconsistency with the actual
facts, and it cannot be ignored that local Persian officials have repeatedly created
obstacles in the unearthing of treacherous elements and local judges have
repeatedly exonerated such elements or have purposely issued light sentences for
persons disturbing public order in the areas where Soviet troops are stationed
and for persons stealing Soviet military property and even for the murderers of
Soviet military officials. In spite of this the Soviet military officials did not have
recourse to interference in the judicial proceedings in Persia, but desired the
protection of the interest of Soviet nationals and institutions in accordance with
the current laws of Persia, and it is obvious that Soviet otticiaJs could not overlook
the methods of investigation and trial adopted by the Persian officials with regard
to Persian subjects who committed important crimes against certain Soviet
officials and military personnel. However, this can in no way be considered as
interference in the judicial affairs of Persia. " ,
Activities on the part of certain Persian political parties in the northern
provinces, such as the incidents which took place in Mianeh and Maragheh, were
referred to in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ memorandum, which connected
such activities with the Democratic party of Persian Azerbaijan. Information
received by the Soviet Embassy does not confirm the questions brought up in the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ memorandum. In any case, the incidents in the
northern provinces of Persia which are connected with the activities of political
parties constitute in fact Persian internal problems. Soviet officials and military
authorities have not interfered and do not interfere in the political life of the
northern provinces. Therefore the Soviet Embassy strongly rejects the efforts
to transfer responsibility for these incidents from the Persian to the Soviet
authorities, who have in no way interfered in these incidents.
Since the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to support its statements, thought it
necessary to appeal to the Tripartite Pact, the Soviet Embassy is obliged to state
that the above-mentioned pact, dated 1942, is fully and carefully observed by the
Soviets.
At the same time, the Soviet Embassy is obliged t 6 point out that the section
of the above-mentioned pact connected with the maintenance of security inside
Persia is often not observed by Persian officials; the behaviour of certain members
of military and gendarmerie groups has not been consistent with the establish
ment of security in the areas of their appointment. This matter was duly men
tioned in memorandum of the 20th August, 1944, and in subsequent
correspondence from the Soviet Embassy. Information in the hands of the Soviet
Embassy bears witness that recently certain gendarmerie officials have not only
failed to render any help in establishing security and order in the northern
provinces, but have very often been responsible by their own behaviour for
undesirable incidents between local residents. In connexion with the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs’ statement concerning the entry of military reinforcements
to the northern provinces, the Soviet Embassy would draw that Ministry’s atten
tion to the following points. Taking into consideration the fact that any
undesirable incidents must be avoided in the interests of both the Persian and
the Russian Governments, and the fact that this question is connected with the
entry of new Persian troops into the northern provinces of Persia, the Soviet
Government does not deem the entry of such troops at the present moment to be
expedient, and it must be taken into consideration that if any new forces, in
addition to the regular Persian army and gendarmerie stationed in these districts,
should enter these areas, then such ^action would lead to disturbances and blood
shed in the northern provinces of Persia. The Soviet Government would then
be obliged, for the maintenance of the security of the Soviet garrison, to bring
in new reinforcements of their own. As the Soviet Government does not desire
to bring reinforcements into Persia, does not. therefore, deem it expedient for
Persian military reinforcements to enter the northern provinces of Persia.
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