800.20291/8: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1—3:32 p.m.]
902. My 846, August 16. Arrests began yesterday and are continuing. Those detained are being taken to Sultanabad for interrogation by British, in the presence of Iranian judges. Soviet Charge received instructions from his Government to support arrests, after making certain deletions from and additions to list of persons to be arrested.
When Prime Minister was informed by British Minister of British demand for the arrests, he asked pointedly, “What will my position now be?” To this British Minister states he replied, “We will continue to support you as long as you work for the Allies”. I doubt that Minister was fully sincere in this statement since he has a very low opinion of Soheily and has long wished to replace him with Taquizadeh, Seyid Zia-ed-Din, or some other stronger person.
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