Coll 28/103 ‘Persia. Perso Russian Relations’ [‎39r] (77/190)

7./
^OPY
(Enclosure)
(E 5977/94/34)
Ref. THC/891/44
ANGLO-SOVIET PERSIAN CENSORSHIP
Office
L
of Joint Directors,
TEHERAN.
Hth September, 1944*
i
Subject: Principles of Censorship j i
after the surrender of
Germany«
Director (M.E.) Censorship,
Office of Minister Resident (M.E.)
10, Sharia Tolumbat, * 1 2 3 4 5 6
Cairo?
1. i have consulted the Embassy and our various users on points
(a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 3 of your ME/003/44 of 31st August,
namely:- .
(a) The prevention of information of value to the Japanese
reaching them;
(b) The obtaining of intelligence of value in conducting the
war against Japan;
(c) The prevention of enemy export and the enforcement of
the blockade against Japan.
2. The Anglo-Soviet-Persian Censorship, being dependent on the
Treaty of Alliance between Persia and the U.S.S.R. and Great
Britain may according to article V of the Treaty be continued "not
later than six months after all hostilities between the Allied
Powers and Germany and her associates have been suspended". "The
expression "Associates" of Germany means all other Powers which
have engaged or may in future engage in hostilities against either
of the Allied Powers".
The continuance of Censorship until after hostilities between
Great Britain and Japan come to an end is thus provided for.
3. Experience during the present year has shown that the Soviet
Section of the Censorship by its narrow views on the censorship of
incoming literature has turned the Censorship to its own political
use, causing us, with consequent friction, to take retaliatory
■easures. These cause embarrassment to our Embassy who from a
political standpoint would be pleased to see the early removal of
Censorship altogether unless the Russians can be induced to agree
to a mutual cessation of political censorship only. Negotiations
to obtain such agreement are going on between the Embassies but
are likely to be protracted, and judged on the views expressed by
the Soviet Joint Director, are not likely to succeed.
4. The Embassy view is that for use in the war against Japan it
would be sufficient if the Censorship were reduced to an Anglo-
Soviet-Persian Censorship Control of Telegraphic Communications with
the object of preventing information reaching the Japanese about
shipping at Abadan and in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
5. The local representative of M.I.6 states that Censorship
has been useful to his office in the past but that he has had
practically no benefit fran it since 1943, and that he doubts
after the surrender of Germany it v/ill be of any further value
if
to him.
6. The local M.E.W. Representative states that, from the point
of view of his work here, the Censorship would be unnecessary to
enforce the blockade against Japan. In the unlikely event of any
export business being contemplated from Persia to Japan he would
have other means of obtaining information on the subject. The
Commercial Secretary concurs with these views. •