BRITISH SLIGHTLY RESISTED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 270, 27 August 1941, Page 5

BRITISH SLIGHTLY RESISTED.

SPHERES OF OPERATIONS.

IRAN’S TREATY OBLIGATIONS. (Rec. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 26. According to the latest information reaching London slight resistance is being met by the British forces on each line of advance into Iran 1 . A competent military commentator here stated that the general plan was for the Soviet forces to establish command of the northern area of Iran and 'dispel the German nationals in that territory and for the British forces to take similar action in the western and southern areas.

There is no information as to whether it is the intention for the British and Soviet forces to link up. Among the. British forces advancing in Iran are Indian and British troops, including infantry and armoured units, operating from Khanaquin, in Iraq. No authoritative mews has yet reached London to indicate whether the Russian forces which, according to the Moscow wireless, have advanced 25 miles yito Iran, met any resistance. In view of article six of the treaty signed between the Soviet and Iran Governments in 1921 it would be only consistent with Iran’s treaty obligations to permit the entry of Soviet troops, since by that treaty Iran granted Russia the right to send troops into Iran should a third power desire “to use Persian territory as a base for operations against Russia or if a foreign power should threaten the frontiers of Soviet Russia-'and if the Persian Government should not be able to arrest such menace after having been once called upon to do so by Russia.”

The joint Anglo-Soviet memorandum concerning the presence of large numbers of recently-arrived German nationals in Iran established a clear case for the invocation of this article of the 1921 treaty.—British Official Wireless.

NAZI PLANS IN IRAN. * ALLEGATION BY THE SOVIET INDIA’S VIE W OF THE MOVE LONDON, August 25. The Note handed to the Iranian Minister in Moscow by the Soviet Foreign Commissar (M. Molotov) disclosed that German agents had their own arms and ammunition dumps m the northern part of Teheran, and spies in every important growing institution. This growing danger not only justified, the invocation of Article VI of the Treaty of 1921, hut made it necessary. The official statement issued in Simla on behalf of India says: “The joint British-Russian action is designed solely tb deny the Axis any further opportunity to threaten the security of Russia, the countries in the Middle East, and India, and to prevent the, on and other resources of Iran from falling into German ..hands, which Iran herself would be powerless to prevent.” The statement emphasises that tins action is merely a security measure and is made entirely without intention ot interfering with Iran’s independence. The reason for the move into Iran were given in' Simla by 'Major-General G. M. Molesworth, Deputy-Connnander-in-Chief in India. He said it was a step that both the British and Russian Governments 'deplored. It Was made necessary by the hitter experience of the Allies in contending with the enemy’s fifth column in countries like Syria and Iraq, where their plots had been foiled. The Germans had been pouring /men into Iran in the guise of scientists, tradesmen, and tourists, and many of them were now occupying key positions. It had been made quite clear to the Iranian Government that as a recult of the attack on Russia by Germany, Britain’s ally would be threatened seriously in. the rear by further German action.

Neither Britain nor Russia desired territorial gain. The same assurance had been given to Turkey, Arabia, Afghanistan, and other adjoining countries.—British Official Wireless.

BRITISH SAFE AND WELL. RESIDENTS OF TEHERAN. (Rec. 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 26. News has reached 1 London from the British Minister at Teheran that all the British community are safe and well. —British Official Wireless. •