Possible Grant of Oil Concessions by Persia to the U.S.S.R.

ANNEX II FROM TEHRAN TO FOREIGN OFFICE NO. 965 TOP SECRET My immediately preceding telegram. Following for Hayter. I have reviewed report available here which might have a bearing on Soviet intentions. 2. Majority of reports are unconfirmed and come into category of bazaar rumors probably set in circulation by Soviet agents and Tudeh. The few reports which can be regarded as factual, suggest that Soviet forces in frontier areas of Trans-Caucasia and the Turkmen Republic have been deliberately advertising their presence by loosing off machine guns, flashing seachlights and rumbling tanks or heavy motor transport about at night: there is also a report that a Soviet naval vessel recently approached the port of Astara and shone its searchlight on the town.