Report to I. V. Stalin on Draft Instructions to Cde. Sadchikov About the Issue of the Shah of Iran's Overture

to Cde. I. V. STALIN

I am attaching a draft of the instructions to Cde. Sadchikov about the issue of the Shah of Iran's overture about a visit to the Soviet Union which has been corrected in accordance with the comments made at the 17 January meeting.

A draft decree is attached.

Please examine [it].

Signed A. Gromyko

17 January 1952

Nº 53-gi

Authenticated: [illegible signature]

Copies were distributed

to Cdes: Molotov

Malenkov

Beria

Mikoyan

Kaganovich

Bulganin

Khrushchev

[Stamp:

Secretariat of V. M. Molotov

17 1 1952

Incoming Nº M-740s]

[Translator's note: yet another version of this note, Nº 58-gi dated 21 January 1952, was sent to Stalin and the same addressees and is in the Molotov file as M-854s]

[[Note: Text in double-brackets was crossed out in original]]

Draft

TOP SECRET

VKP(b) CC DECREE

concerning instructions to Cde. Sadchikov, the Soviet Ambassador in Iran, in connection with the Shah of Iran's overture about a visit to the Soviet Union

Approve the draft instructions to Cde. Sadchikov, the Soviet Ambassador in Iran (attached).

PRIORITY

TEHRAN

TO THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR

13,26. First. [handwritten: Finding a suitable pretext], Kuznetsov [together with Counselor Atroshchenkov] ought to meet with Nurzad and, referring to his statement to Kuznetsov on 4 January, tell Nurzad that his statement about the Shah's visit to the USSR is not clear. It is not clear from this whether the Shah actually desired [to go] to the USSR. [[and if he does has such an intention when he would like to undertake such a visit. In view of the uncertainty concerning these issues he, Kuznetsov, could not report to the Ambassador what the Shah's true intentions are.]] When doing so Kuznetsov should say that if the Shah has the intention which Nurzad mentioned then there is a possibility of directly notifying the Soviet Ambassador about this.

[Translator's note: another version of one of the above reads, "… tell Nurzad that his statement about the Shah's visit to the USSR was unclear. It is not clear from this what Nurzad wanted to say about a visit to the USSR by the Shah and whether the statement by Nurzad actually reflects the intention of the Shah himself. If Nurzad repeats that it would not be a bad thing for the Soviet Government to invite the Shah to the USSR, Atroshchenkov ought to say that Nurzad ought to address this Ambassador about this issue and it would be insufficient to limit himself to those conversations which have been held up to now."]

Second. From your telegrams it [[is evident]] can be understood that you attach great importance to Nurzad's report about the Shah's desire to visit the Soviet Union and do not take into consideration that such an overture on the part of the Iranians is obviously being undertaken in order to use it for their purposes to strengthen their position in dealing with the British and the Americans in the event that we have a favorable attitude toward such an overture.

In view of this we should not give the Iranians an excuse to present the matter as if we desire a visit by the Shah to the USSR and we exhibit [[special]] interest in this matter. This is especially important because such an overture has already take place in the past, but in spite of our favorable attitude to this the Shah took no steps with the purpose of making such a visit and improving Soviet-Iranian relations.

You ought to bear in mind that we can express our attitude on the issue of the possibility of a trip by the Shah to Moscow only in the event that the Shah raises this issue directly.

Confirm receipt.

Report by telegraph [when this is doe]

[A. Gromyko]

[Translator's note: here is a later draft, the attachment referred to in the above VKP(b) CC decree]

TEHRAN

TO THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR

13,26. Kuznetsov ought to meet with Nurzad and, referring to the question raised by him about a possible visit to the USSR by the Shah, say that the Soviet Government has been and still is in favor of an improvement of Soviet-Iranian relations. If the Shah expresses a desire to visit the Soviet Union in order improve Soviet-Iranian relations then, in Kuznetsov's opinion, this might encounter a favorable response in Moscow.

Confirm receipt.

Report by telegraph [when this is done]

/A. Gromyko/

[Another draft, undated]

TEHRAN

TO THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR

13.26. You should take into the account that the Iranians have more than once raised the issue of a visit to the USSR by the Shah, without bringing it to any practical conclusions. And now they have [handwritten: evidently] raised the issue of a visit to the USSR by the Shah in order to use a discussion of this issue with Soviet representatives in that political game which the Iranians are playing with the British and especially the Americans. Without avoiding hearing out the Iranians and establishing what their actual intentions are at present, you should bear in mind that we can express our attitude [[on the question of a possible]] toward the question visit to Moscow by the Shah [[definitely]] only in the event that the Shah exhibits a definite desire to travel to the USSR and this is brought to your attention as Ambassador.

Guided by the above, let Nurzad know through Kuznetsov that if the Shah actually has the intention of which Nurzad spoke then he will of course find a way to raise this question in a suitable manner.

Confirm receipt.

Report by telegraph [when this is done]

[[Note: Text in double-brackets was crossed out in original]]

[Yet another draft, undated]

PRIORITY

TEHRAN

TO THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR

13.26. Kuznetsov and Inoyarov ought to meet with Nurzad in accordance with the wish he expressed. During the meeting Inoyarov should ask Nurzad what information he has that the Shah actually wants to visit the USSR and that the Shah expresses a desire to improve relations with the USSR. Inoyarov needs to try and obtain more definite statements from Nurzad about these issues and more precise information about the actual intentions of the Shah without, however, turning this conversation into some interrogation of Nurzad. While doing this he should not make any statements which might be interpreted as an indication of our interest in the Shah coming to the USSR but he should be told that the Ambassador will be informed of the conversation.

Confirm receipt.

Report by telegraph [when this is done]