891.00/1960: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10—8:22 p.m.]
6999. Substance of Department’s 6232, December 9, 8 p.m. concerning situation prevailing in Iran has been communicated to [Page 213] Foreign Office. Foreign Office states that it was informed of rioting in Tehran by British Minister. With reference to present Cabinet, Foreign Office says that it also feels that while this group is in some respects unsatisfactory, a change at this time would be most inopportune. Unfortunately, Foreign Office adds, the Shah himself apparently wishes to dismiss Qavam. As Foreign Office, however, feels so strongly about the advisability of retaining the present Cabinet in power, it instructed the British Minister at Tehran on December 9 to see the Shah and to emphasize how disruptive a change of Cabinet would be at this particular time.
Foreign Office also states that it fully realizes that extreme shortage of wheat, particularly in Tehran, is primary cause of unrest and disorder. According to its information, which is confirmed by the Soviet Ambassador at Tehran, some 35,000 tons of wheat are available in the northern provinces of Iran, which are under Soviet occupation. On two occasions recently the Soviet Ambassador at Tehran assured the British Minister there that the Soviet authorities would in no way impede the transportation of wheat from this area to Tehran. As the food shortage may become much more acute within the last few days, and as there is this supply of wheat in the northern provinces immediately available, Foreign Office also instructed the British Minister on December 9 to see the Soviet Ambassador and urge him to do everything he can to enlist the support of the Soviet authorities in those provinces in actually transporting this wheat to Tehran. At the same time, the British Minister at Tehran was instructed to report whether it has been possible to obtain wheat in Iraq for Iran and, if so, whether any of this has been shipped, and also to report how much, if any, barley has been shipped to Iran from Iraq.
In connection with the possibility of obtaining some wheat and barley in Iraq for immediate shipment to Iran see my Embassy’s 6518, of November 19, 7 p.m.