Coll 28/103 ‘Persia. Perso Russian Relations’ [3r] (5/190)
The record is made up of 1 file (92 folios). It was created in 19 Apr 1940-16 Aug 1946. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
^
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Bevin.—{Received k 2§th March.)
(No. 76. Secret.)
Sir, V-X Tehran, loth March, 1946.
y IN my despatch No. 65, dated the 3rd March, I transmitted a note on the
question of North Persia. The note stopped at the point where it had become
clear that the Russians did not intend to withdraw their troops from Persia
by the date fixed by the tripartite treaty. I now have the honour to submit
some speculations as to the effect that Soviet policy is likely to have in this part
of the world. It is an easier task than it used to be, as the Russians have begun
to show their hand almost as openly as Hitler used to do, though they have never
provided us with a succinct “ Mein Kampf ” so that we might study the action
in comparison with the programme. Eight years in close contact with Soviet
Russia—nearly half from inside Russia, the rest at a sensitive spot in the Soviet
“ security belt ”—have convinced me that the attitude of the rulers of Russia,
whoever they may be, towards the rest of the world resembles that of the early
Moslem lawyers, who named it the Dar al Harb, or Region of War, as opposed
to their own Region of Islam. The Region of War comprised all lands where
Islam was not dominant, and it was legitimate to make war on any of them, the
only criterion being the prospects of success. The Soviet Government seem to
have decided that this is a favourable moment to effect the virtual inclusion of"
part of Persia in the Dar al Soviet and to establish indirect control oyer the rest
of the country. -v^
2. It would seem to be a simple and straightforward matter to convict
Russia of aggression for her behaviour in provoking the Azerbaijan movement
and in retaining troops in Persia after the treaty date, but behind the defence
that the troops have a right to be in Persia under the 1921 treaty there is the
moral claim of the Soviet Government to represent the policy which used to be
called Liberal. This policy is well set forth by E. G. Browne in his book “ The
Persian Revolution of 1905-09.” In his introduction he states that his book is
based on the following assumptions :—
“ (1) That in this world diversity, not uniformity, is the higher law and
the more desirable state.
“ (2) That everything in this world has its own generic perfection, or as
the Babis quaintly phrase it, its own Paradise, which is only
attainable by the realisation of its own highest potentialities, not
by the adoption of the attributes of something else.
“ (3) That, whether it be a question of individuals or nations, the destruc
tion of a distinctive type is a loss to the universe and therefore an
evil.”
If any of those ministers of the Czar who were responsible for Russian policy
from 1905-17 ever read Professor Browne’s principles, they probably thought
him at best an impracticable idealist, and they would have considered any British
statesman who professed to believe in them as a humbug concealing behind a
sanctimonious facade the cynical imperialism of the British Government. The
Soviet Government, however, would probably claim the principles as their own.
It is reactionary Persian Governments, they would say, that have tried to iron
out the diversity which should be the spice of life, making no allowance for
differences of race and language; and that by neglecting education and failing
to control the power of wealth and landownership, have prevented the Persians
from even beginning to attain the realisation of their own potentialities. How
different, the Soviet Government would say, is the situation in Russia, where
every minority is encouraged to use its own language and to develop its own
culture, and opportunities for education and self-development are open to all
individuals without discrimination.
[77—1]
About this item
- Content
Correspondence and papers, some marked Most Secret, concerning relations between the Soviet Union and Persia [Iran]. Much of the file concerns the British Government’s concerns about Soviet interference and influence in Persia, particularly at the end and in the aftermath of the Second World War. The file covers: relations between Persia, the Soviet Union and Germany, 1940; the Persian Government’s desire to replace British personnel working in its aviation operations with personnel from the USA, and the proposed use of Persian aerodromes by the Soviet Government, 1940; reports of German infiltration in Persia, 1941; British concerns about an increase in Soviet propaganda in Iran, 1943; the activities of the Anglo-Soviet-Persian Censorship office, 1944; reports that the Soviet Consulate in Ahwaz [Ahvāz] wished to open a ‘propaganda shop’ at Abadan, 1945; notes about the Soviet Union and North Persia, written by the British Ambassador in Tehran, Reader William Bullard (ff 18-22, ff 3-4).
The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (92 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 94; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3514
- Title
- Coll 28/103 ‘Persia. Perso Russian Relations’
- Pages
- 3r
- Author
- Browne, Edward Granville
- Usage terms
- Public Domain