IRAN RESOLVED TO RESIST.

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

IRAN RESOLVED TO RESIST.

“WE HAVE DONE OUR UTMOST.*'

DECLARATION BY THE PREMIER. LONDON, August 25. Declaring that British forces had attacked Iran by land, sea and air, the Iranian Prime Minister (Ali Mansur), at an extraordinary session of the Iranian Parliament, said: “We have taken all necessary measures to face the attack.

“We have hitherto applied a policy of strict neutrality in every sense to the best of our ability, .following a policy of friendship with all countries, particularly our neighbours. All members of Parliament have approved the Government’s.policy. “When Britain, in agreement with Russia, sent a memorandum to Iran on July 16, we replied that we were keeping a careful watch on all foreigners, and we pointed out that no danger could result from the small number of Germans.

“Nevertheless, we took special measures to reduce the number of Germans, and did our utmost to satisfy Britain and Russia. -

“Most regrettably, however, the British and Russian representatives arrived at my house at 4 a.m. and presented threatening memoranda. Bi'itish and Soviet troops were already then crossing the frontier and British forces have attacked Iranian ships in port and bombed and shelled our towns.”

The Ankara representative ofthe National Broadcasting Company of America says that members of the Iranian Government are reported to be on their way to Ankara to seek Turkish mediation.

The Turkish Foreign Minister (Su* kru Saracoglu) to-day received the British, Soviet and Iranian. Ambassadors to Turkey. The Ankhra radio said that'the Turkish people hope that the possibility of a settlement of the Iranian troubleis not lost, adding that Turkish public opinion supports Iran and regards- the allegations against Iran as incompatible with right and justice, and considers that Iran is defending her independence

Some of the Turkish newspapers are sympathetic to Iran.