DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/03/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03164653
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653 APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018 3.3(h)(2) EUROPE -AFRICA 1. IRAN: Soviet moves and intentions--US Consul Tabriz reports continued heavy movement of Soviet troops and tanks southward from Tabriz to Maragheh (about 50 miles south). The Consul on 15 March was ordered at gun point to leave the Tabriz railroad station and held for half an. hour. (Near this station, on the road to Maragheh, is a freight unloading zone under Soviet guard at which the native regional manager of the Anglo-Iran Oil Company was arrested on 14 March and released on bond after a � twelve-hour grilling.) When the Consul was released, he was told not to come that way again. On 17 March Qavam again assured US Embassy � Tehran that he would immediately instruct the Iranian Ambassador to Washington to present Iran's case to the Security Council and to do so in a moderate fashion in order to avoid provoking the Soviets. Two days earlier 0.a.varn. sent a confidential emissary to both the UK and US A.mbassadors to inform them in confidence that the .Soviet Charge had (a.) threatened that Iran's referral of the case to the Council would be considered "a hostile act" and (b) suggested that Qavam should take no action but .await a request. from the Security Council for a report. The emissary indicated that Qavam was tempted to leave the initiative to the Security Council in order to avoid extreme Soviet reaction, but suggested that if -Qiva.m delays his appeal to the Council the Soviets might arrange to have his Government overthrown anyway and thus elimi- nate the �os 'b " nrnoe.ssy Moscow believes that the USSR must make � some effort in the near future, through subservient native elements, to establish a regime which will accede to such major Soviet demands as retention of Soviet troops and the tkithd, 27 Document No. NO CHANGE in C1JJ3s. [1 DECLASSIFIED Class. CHANGED TO: TS 0 DDA M9me, 77 . Auth: DDA Date: 9 MAR 1978 B7: 0Jfl Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653 Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653 APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018 granting of oil concessions to the USSR. Embassy Moscow considers, however, that the Soviets in the Middle East will endeavor to keep "just this side" of a complete diplo- matic break with Britain and avoid taking a position from which, for reasons of prestige, they could not withdraw. 2. POLAND: POLAND: Restrictions on oliticap_l_sp_c�ression--Ambassa- dor Lane and his British colleague both "feel strongly" that their respective Governments, without waiting for Polish elections to be held, should protest to Warsaw that free elections are being made impassible by Government measures restricting free expression of opinion. (Secret) 3. RUMANIA: et troops The US Delegation at Budapest reports that extensive pub- licity was given to a 14 March Soviet communique authoriz- ing Marshal Tolbukhin to place at the disposal of the Rumanian Government and Rumanian peasants the mechanized equipment, horses and troops from Soviet units in Rumania to assist "in the agricultural campaign." The Delegation points out that such a move will permit the Soviets and the Groza Government to exert pressure on the conservative peasantry before the coming election. (Secret) 4. YUGOSLAVIA: Allied Policy regarding return of deserters-- The State Department representative at Caserta reports that General Harding has decided to return to the Yugoslav Army all uniformed deserters, regardless of whether they are political refugees from the Tito regime. Representatives of both the UK Foreign Office and the US State Department point out that (a) General Harding's decision is contrary to a previous US-UK agreement to return no political refugees whether or not in uniform; (b) such a policy would have severe political repercussions in Yugoslavia among those opposed to Tito; and (c) General Harding's decision can only be countermanded by instructions from the Combined Chiefs of Staff. (Se Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653 Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653 APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018 P p 3.3(h)(2) 5. GREAT BRITAIN: Anders agrees to_tvpss.eferendum-- A 1JX Foreign Office official has informed Embassy London that General Anders would not obstruct the British plan to conduct a referendum giving Polish troops in Italy an oppor- tunity to decide individually whether or not to return to Poland. The disposition of those Poles who elect not to return will not be settled for at least six weeks. (Secret) FAR EAST KOREA: Soviets display increasing military activity-- rding to General flodgel he Soviets in northern Korea are (a) constructing air-raid shelters and anti-aircraft gun positions in the principal cities, (b) unloading ammunition and engaging in combat exercises, and (c) apparently tightening security measures by making certain areas off limits to Koreans. (Top THE AMERICAS 7. ARGENTINA: lagiaticauathasjaaR--In connection with the forthcoming visit of a Soviet Trade Mission and other indications of Soviet interest in Argentina, Charge Cabot believes that Argentina wishes to improve its "pre- carious international situation" by using Soviet "nuisance value as a counterweight" to US pressure. He considers that a close alliance with the USSR would have economic and political disadvantages for Argentina and believes that Peron would prefer to deal with the TB rather than the Soviets unless good relations with the US are impossible or. involve too high a price. (Confidential) Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 C03164653