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How can the Iranian delegation now contend that the attempts of the Iranian Government to start negotiations with the Soviet Government had no results?
From all that I have said, it is obvious that such results have been achieved. It will also be seen that the negotiations were not continued after 1 December because the Iranian Government did not desire it and obviously did not see the necessity for it. Indeed, in view of the facts referred to above, can it be said that the negotiations between the Soviet Government and the Iranian Government were unsuccessful? The Soviet Government answers: No, this cannot be said. As a matter of fact, results were achieved, and these results were such that the Iranian Government did not think it necessary to continue the negotiations.
The Iranian delegation also referred here to the notes bearing later dates in December, the 13th and 15th. These references of the Iranian delegation to the notes in question aim at showing that even after 1 December the Iranian Government approached the Soviet Government with similar claims which, allegedly, were not granted. But on referring to these notes, it would appear that they did not deal with the claims presented at an earlier date by the Iranian Government to the Soviet Government, but raised an entirely new question, that is, that the Moscow Conference of Three Ministers should discuss the wishes of the Iranian Government regarding the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iran, and that no decisions should be taken at the Moscow Conference without previous consultation with the Iranian Government. It may therefore be asserted that after 1 December the Iranian Government did not repeat its claims against the Soviet Union, and that the reference to the notes of 13 and 15 December has no relation whatever to the question presented by the Iranian Government to the Security Council. As to the substance of these December notes, in which the question of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iran is discussed, this matter was covered in the Treaty of 1942, which, as is known, laid down a definite time limit for this purpose. It is also known that the Moscow Conference of three Ministers of Foreign Affairs did not discuss Iranian questions, and therefore the claim of Mr. Hakimi at this time in connexion with the fact that he was not invited to the Moscow Conference is quite unfounded.
I will summarize this part of my statement, I consider it to be proved that, in November 1945, negotiations on the claims presented by the Iranian Government did take place between the Soviet Government and the Iranian Government, and that these negotiations had satisfactory results. Now the Iranian delegation, acting on the instructions of the Iranian Government, which, as is known, has now been replaced by another Government, states that it does not consider these negotiations satisfactory. In this case, the Iranian delegation has every possibility of again addressing the Soviet Government in order to clarify the questions in which it is interested.
