Message from Bagirov to Stalin with Reply of the Azerbaijani Democrats

CC VCP(b) to Cde. Stalin

In accordance with the cipher telegram of Cde. Dekanozov [Translator’s note: one of Molotov’s deputies] I gave the leaders of the Azerbaijani Democratic Party in full all the orders contained in this telegram.

I am sending the letter of reply of the Azerbaijani democrats received today and addressed to me from Tabriz:

Cdr. Bagirov, you know well that we have made colossal concessions to the Iranian government with the goal of a peaceful settlement of our problems.:

We have turned our national Majlis into a district enjumen; [local council]; completely disbanded our national government; accepted the appointment of a governor-general and also all leaders considered by Tehran; reorganized 4,000 fedai [militia] into a gendarmerie and sent the rest home; agreed to merge our national army with Iranian troops and to the appointment of a commanding general from Tehran; [and] handed over Zanjan and Khams to the government, which are an inseparable part of Azerbaijan, etc.

In spite of this, after a nine-month delay Qavam violated the agreement concluded between us and openly intends to take away our few rights by force.

He does not want to permit any of our representatives into the Majlis and if we agreed to this, then he will make even tougher demands  [zhestkiye pretenzii] and demand punishment for everyone who took part in our democratic movement.

We have no doubt of this, for it has been shown by brutal reprisals inflicted in Zanjan on democrats, their wives, and children after we abandoned the city (murders, throwing people from roofs, killing children, outrages against young women in front of the people, etc.)

Now Qavam himself has not denied his intentions to complete liberate Azerbaijan of liberty-loving people.

He has brought up more armed forces to our borders (to Zanjan, Rasht, Kurdistan).

In Kurdistan 15,000 government troops are concentrated, in Qazvin and Zanjan – 12,000; and in the area of Rasht – 10,000. These troops are armed to the teeth with cannon, armored cars, aircraft, and other equipment. Besides this, Qavam has created detachments of landowners who have left Azerbaijan and other dissatisfied elements and is sending them to carry out subversive work inside Azerbaijan.

If we were confident in a peaceful resolution of the question then we would continue to maintain our patience. However, circumstances are otherwise.

Right now it is a question of life or death – they want to destroy us. We see this with our own eyes. True, our forces are few, our armament extremely limited, but the people are feel an enormous trust in our Party, and our population is brave and heroic. We will defend our fate from all forces, but if we are forced to then we will take to the mountains, continuing a guerilla war.

We all have old men and children, lads and maidens, women and men ready for a struggle. The people’s mood is very elated, as high as the combat spirit of our fedai and national army.

We prefer to die proudly and honorably than live shamefully and without liberty.

Our hands are almost empty before forces of reaction armed to the teeth.

Newer and newer detachments of peasants, workers, and intellectuals are turning to us with a request to send them to the field of battle, but we do not even have a rifle to arm these people.

We have 4 cannon total in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan and they have no shells. In addition, two mortars are idle for lack of shells.

In this regard we need your aid very much. And without it our fedai will rush against ranks with clubs and fists, but this is not enough.

You know well that the Azerbaijani people are close friends of the Soviet Union. You know better than we that with the destruction of Azerbaijan Qavam is trying to root out Soviet influence and the freedom-loving front in all of Iran.

Knowing the deep sincerity and concern for our freedom personally on your part and on behalf of the people of northern Azerbaijan, that is, on behalf of our Party and our brothers, we turn to you for assistance in the matter of weapons.

With this aid, thanks to the devotion of our people and their love for freedom, we will destroy the reactionary government and throw it back to Tehran.

All the liberty-loving forces of Iran wish us success.

The mood of the government troops is not at all good.

If we manage to strike a strong blow on them in one sector or another they will all flee or they will begin to surrender in groups.

[Their] sympathy is with our side, but our hands are unarmed.

We request your aid in this part and this aid should be given us as soon as possible.

At first, the enemy can catch us by surprise. Without weapons our forces could be reduced by the hour and the people, seeing this, could lose heart.

At the present time we do not have any other way except to fight.

Now in the mouths of each Azerbaijani there is no other slogan than “Die, but do not retreat”.

Today’s slogan is “Either live in freedom or die with pride”.

With [this] slogan our party and our people go forward, feeling great hopes in the great Stalin.

Cde. Bagirov, believe me, this is really the mood of our people. All eyes are on you in the expectation of aid and we have not learned this; it is caused by a natural feeling.

Even in the remotest sectors of the country the peasants turning to use ask: “Will our brothers on that side of the Araks [River] really not give us weapons and not give us aid? Will the bloodsucker Qavam, like a beast, really destroy us in front of the eyes of the great Soviet state?”

Such are the feelings of our people at the present time.

We request you, Cde. Bagirov, deliver our letter to the great Stalin.

Pishevari, Shabustari, Padegan, Dr. Javid

I consider it necessary to report that the Azerbaijanis have a serious situation and need any aid we can give them so that in case of attack they can defend the positions they occupy; at the same time [we should] categorically dissuade them from an offensive or attacking the Iranian troops. In this regard I completely share the point of view of Cde. Sadchikov laid out in his cipher telegram No 215 of 30 November.

Request your instructions.

M. D. Bagirov

2 December 1946

[handwritten below: N 40-41,42,43]