ALLIED WARNING TO IRAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23411, 19 August 1941, Page 7

ALLIED WARNING TO IRAN

A CAUSE

PLANNED

“Wfll Not Hesitate To Use Force”

GERMAN DEMANDS REPORTED

(Received August 18, 9.50 p.m.)

(U.P,A) LONDON, August 18. According to the Ankara correspond dent of the Russian Tass News Agency it is reliably reported that Germany has demanded air bases in. Iran and fuel for German aeroplanes using them.

The German Minister to Iran is stated to have warned the Government that diplomatic relations would be severed if German “citizens” were expelled. , m ■■ The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that considerable force is behind the British and Soviet representations to Iran, and it is obviotis that Britain ,ahd Russia at the present stage of the war will not hesitate to use it if they are compelled' to do so in furtherance of their settled policy. V ■ . , : Reuter quotes reports from Ankara that' 2500 Germans hold important posts in ' Iranian industry and public .works projects. The Germans are said to have (headquarters for fifth column propaganda established at Tabriz. A “British Official . Wireless message says that,- : ' although the British and Russian (-representations regarding the excessive number of Germans in Tran were very* strongly expressed, if is felt here that it should hardly be necessary to emphasise to any small Power the danger of permitting such Nazi penetration. The Hitler regime has brought this method -to a fine art, and it should be obvious that once he is allowed to place his foot in the door, as happened in the case of Syria, nothing but disaster would be likely to ensue. Herr Hitler’s promises are likely to be more dangerous than his threats, and. playing with fire in the shape of the Nazis is inevitably followed by a conflagration. If it is not fully realised that the aim of Britain and Russia is merely to prevent the Nazis making fresh trouble m the Middle East by this type of “invasion” of Iran* the eight-point declaration of Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt makes it abundantly clear in- the first statement of all: “Their countries seek no aggrandisement, territorial or other." ' Russia is categorically in agreement with this sentiment. All, three countries desire a world free from Nazi domination, the road to which is paved by such actions as placing 3000 Germans in Iran ready to make trouble at their leaders’ bidding, especially as they occupy vulnerable positions in ihternal administration and are therefore in a position to do incalculable harm.-

DISTURBANCES IN FRANCE

SCARCITY OF FOOD

GERMANS THREATEN COMMUNISTS

(Received August 18,-7 p.m.) LONDON, August 17,

Private messages ftcm, Lyon say that the recent disturbances in France are not attributable to Communists but to the hungry people, who were demonstrating in the market places against the food- scarcity and rising prices. The Geneva correspondent of “The Times” reporting this, says that General Stuelpnagel, the commander of the German forces of occupation, has warned the population that anyone supporting Comipunism is liable to death, and anyone possessing tracts in German (and not handing them to the police is liable to 15 years’ hard labour.

The Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that German and French police have arrested the wives of the former Communist Deputies, M. Gaston Midol, M. Pierre Benoist, and M. Rethellier, for possessing Communist tracts. The correspondent adds that the hostility to the "national revolution" has led to the removal of a, number of mayors and r councillors.

GERMAN ATTACK ON ENGLAND

PARACHUTE INVASION

“ATTEMPT BEFORE END OF YEAR ” 1

LONDON, August 17.

The Nazis will attempt an invasion of England before the end of this year at all costs, says a British United Press correspondent on the German frontier. Germany is making 1,000,000 parachutes for an attempt to invade England from the air. The parachutists will be drbpped in foggy weather. The parachutes ordered by the High Coihmand include a type which enables troops to be dropped from a much lower altitude than before. All silk* mills in Germany have beep ordered to .end unnecessary work and concentrate ort parachute silk.

SOVIET AIRMEN’S GREETINGS

GOOD WISHES SENT TO ROYAL AIR FORCE

(Received August 18, 8.40 p.m.)

LONDON, August 17. In the correspondence columns of “The Times" appears a letter sent by cable to the editor from Moscow by 13’ Soviet airmen. It reads: "Allow us to convey greetings to our colleagues—the valorous airmen of Britain, Jointly with them we shall accomplish a common cause, retorting to each blow by Nazi' aircraft with an answering. blow and defending In air battles the hbnour, liberty, and independence of our native lands and the freedom of all . mankind. ' '

“Admiringly we follow the action of the Royal Air Force in Inflicting telling blows on . the industrial centres and, the capital of the conceited Nazi Reich, and refuting Goering’s vaunting twaddle that no bomb shall fall on the Ruhr. And Soviet pilots, too, are fighting the foe. "Friends, British airmen, let us smite the enemy still more strongly, let each Nazi ’ aeroplane daring to rise on its piratical flight be' shot down and destroyed, let us demolish the war plants and heavy Industry- of Hitlerite Germany, let us utterly Obliterate Hitler’s gang of violators and’ murderers. J’Gbrdlal greetings vand wishes for the best .of luck in our joint fight.” The: signatories range from a brigade commander to second lieutenants, v ■: