HC Deb 05 December 1945 vol 416 cc2312-4
31. Brigadier Fitzroy Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a reply has yet been received to the note addressed to the Soviet Government by His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow concerning the situation in North. Persia.

Mr. Bevin

Yes, Sir. As my reply is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Following is the reply:

The Soviet Government's reply refers to the election of a National Assembly in Azerbaijan, and states that this Assembly has addressed a Declaration to the Shah, to the Persian Parliament, and to the Persian Government expressing a desire for national autonomy for the Azerbaijan population, within the boundaries of the Persian State. The Soviet reply declares that the crowded meetings which preceded the creation of this National Assembly were peaceful and did not provoke any disturbances, and that it was the local forces of the gendarmerie which provoked a series of incidents.

When the Persian Government raised the question of sending additional army and gendarmerie units into the Northern Provinces, the Soviet Government opposed sending additional forces to Northern Persia because they regarded the forces already in those provinces, the movement of which has not been and is not being impeded by the Soviet military command, as numerous enough to ensure order in those parts, and because the despatch of additional Persian forces to Northern Persia might lead to an increase in disorder, and possibly cause bloodshed, thereby forcing the Soviet Government to bring in additional forces of its own to maintain order and ensure the security of the Soviet garrisons—a reinforcement which the Soviet Government regard as undesirable.

The Soviet's Government's reply concluded with an assurance that the Soviet Government invariably carries out a policy of respect for the territorial integrity, suzerainty and independence of Persia.

34. Lieut.-Colonel Boles

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make available to the House the text of the communication made recently by the British Government to the Soviet Government, on the situation in Persia.

Mr. Bevin

Yes, Sir. I will arrange for a copy of the communication in question to be placed in the Library.