Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The British Commonwealth, The Soviet Union, The Near East and Africa, Volume III

761.91/209: Telegram

Tehran, March 7, 1940—9 p.m.
[Received March 8—8:13 p.m.]

40. The following information has been received from a very trustworthy source.

(1): Newly arrived German Minister10a has assured the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Hitler that Russia will not invade Iran. No such assurance has been received from the Soviet Ambassador.
(2): Trade agreement between Iran and the Soviet Government is about to be initialed in Moscow. Discussions have since my 152, December 1, been proceeding both here and in Moscow in an atmosphere of great mystery and there have been exchanges of views without committing either Government. Official negotiations had been in abeyance since May 1939 as Iran feared they would almost certainly be stretched so as to include raw materials (see also my 112, October 3).
(3): Relative lack of Soviet success in the Finnish campaign11 has appreciably stiffened Iranian attitude toward Moscow. The Shah is said to be deeply impressed by Finland’s resistance against overwhelming odds and he will now probably stand firm in the face of unreasonable Soviet demands because he does not believe Russia can at present afford to put any additional strain on her army. Feeling is gaining ground that developments in Finland and in the Balkans are bound also to affect Soviet plans in the direction of the Black Sea and the Caspian.

Engert