مجموعة ١٠٩/٢٨ "بلاد فارس. معاهدة التحالف الأنجلو-سوفييتية-فارسية،١٩٤٢." [و‎‎٢‎١‎٢] (٤٤٢/٤٢٣)

With the Compliment
of the
Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs
/
1 6 SEP ^
(This telegrara is of particular secrecy and should be retained
by the authorised recipient and not passed on.)
WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION.
[Cypher.]
From PERSIA.
FROM TEHRAN TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
Sir R. Bullard.
No. 755.
14th September, 1941.
D, 6.12 p.m., 14th September, 1941.
R. 11.50 a.m., 15th September, 1941.
15th September, 1941.
Repeated to Government of India r
Angora,
Bagdad,
Moscow,
I sounded the Prime Minister immediately/ He asked me to
keep the matter secret even from the Minister for Foreign
Affairs while he thought it over. His first reactions were
these:
2. The proposal had many attractions but
(a) many Persians felt they had hitherto avoided offending
Germany since they had merely submitted to force maieure whereas
if they allied themselves with Russia and Great Britain they
would incur the vengeance of Germany if Germany should van;
(b) would the Russians observe the terms of such an
alliance?
(c) if the Shah became allied to the two great Powers
would he not feel his position stronger than ever?
5. The occasion did not allow of long discussion but I
said:
(a) whatever Persia did now would make little difference
if Germany won the war (three grps. undec
(b) criticism of Russian behaviour
me exaggerated and in any case behaviour to an ally would
naturally be better than to an occupied country;
(c) it was for the Persians, not for us, to [? give] the
limits of their reforms: Majlis should lose no time m preparing
the projected demands.
4. I am keeping the Soviet Ambassador informed.