GERMAN AGENTS IN IRAN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23415, 23 August 1941, Page 9

GERMAN AGENTS IN IRAN

No Reply to British

Note

CONVERSATIONS IN BERLIN

(Received August 22, 7 p.m.)

(U.P.A.) LONDON, August 21. No written reply has been received to the British Note to Iran requesting the expulsion of German agents, but preliminary indications of the nature of the reply expected, ■ derived from oral communications, have not made a favourable impression. Iran’s reply is expected in London to-morrow.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says the evidence about the terms is most unencouraging. The conversations in Iran give no promise of agreement. The Germans undoubtedly find Iran useful for underground activities in neighbouring countries, and it is equally clear that the Germans in Iran are a vanguard for a German occupation at the moment Germany chooses. Many technicians are notorious German agents, and others have a suspiciously military trend.

Britain is fully explaining to the Turks the reasons for her concern.

From Berne, it is reported that the Berlin correspondent of the newspaper “La Suisse” says Germany expects British action in Iran soon. Not a word has been dropped about Germany’s reaction, but emphasis is laid on claims that Iran is strong enough to defend her independence. Germany is closely watching Turkey’s reaction to the situation in Iran and there are hints that she will increase her pressure on Turkey if she loses her foothold in Iran. Very im-. portant political conversations at present being held in Berlin may have an echo soon.

The Istanbul correspondent of the British United Press reports that 200,000 German troops are on the Bulgarian frontier, and that more' are arriving every day. The Official German News Agency stated that there were 290 Britons in Iran, 390 Russians, 690 Germans, and 310 Italians. “Only six extra Germans have gone to Iran since June 21, apart from couriers.”

THE EIGHT-POINT DECLARATION

ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, August 21. While Mr Churchill’s Sunday evening broadcast on his meeting with Mr Roosevelt is eagerly awaited, warm appreciation is expressed in Britain of the terms in which the President announced the eight-point declaration in a message to Congress. Mr Roosevelt stated: “This declaration of principles presents a goal which it is worth our while to seek. It is so clear cut that it is difficult to oppose it in any major particular without automatically admitting willingness to accept compromise with Nazism or to agree* to a world peace which would give Nazism domination over a large number of conquered nations.

“Inevitably such a peace would be a gift to Nazism to take breath—for a second war to extend its control in Europe. Asia, and the American hemisphere itself. “It is unnecessary for me to point out that the declaration of principles includes, of necessity, the world’s need for freedom of religion and freedom of information. No society or world organised under the announced principles could survive without these freedoms, which are part of the whole freedom for which we strive.” Mr Roosevelt said that as aid to the democracies had already been decided upon, his conference in the mid-At-lantic with the British Prime Minister had been merely a step towards furthering that aid. Regarding help for Russia, he said that America would aid the defence of any country against the principal aggressor of the modern world—Germany. „ , Mr Jesse Jones, United States Federal Loan Administrator and Secretary of Commerce, said that the United States might assist Russia to purchase war supplies with direct loans rather than lend and lease aid if Russia’s cash became exhausted. Mr William Knudsen, head of the United States Office of Production Management, to-day reiterated his confidence that “no nation on earth could surpass the combined resources of the United States and Britain once the United States reached its production peak, but he warned the nation that it was still not showing the proper spirit for the rearmament C *lt was announced to-day that the production of cars in the United States would probably be reduced by 50 per cent, during the coming year. New aluminium plants costing 52,000,000 dollars are to be built in Arkansas, New York, and the Boulder Dam region to double the production of aluminium.

WAGES AND PRICES IN WAR TIME

VIEWS OF TRADE UNIONS AND GOVERNMENT

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, August 21. An instruction to take steps to bring war-time wage advances into line with the increased cost of living, which the conference of the Transport and General Workers’ Union gave its executive represents a move in the disputed question of the method by which stabilisation of wages and prices can be secured, a question which is occupying the attention of both the Government and the leaders of organised labour. , ... Addressing the conference, the Minister’ for Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin). who devoted many years to the creation of this union, made it clear that the Government was determined on a policy of wage stabilisation. He himself had opposed the policy until the Government had decided to stabilise prices and he emphasised the view that the workers’ own interests were always injured by the fact that rises in prices always outstripped rises in wages. , • ..... Commenting on the disparity in the view of the question held by the trade union movement and the Government, "The Times” sees in the resolution a possible prospect of agreement and some indication of a “softening of the unyielding mood” up to now held by the unions. Drawing attention to that part of the union’s resolution calling on the Government to prevent as far as it can any further rise in the cost of living, “The Times” states that the inference to be drawn is that should the Government accomplish this, the ground for further war-time wage increases would, from the unions’ point of view, be removed. It adds: "If the resolution can be read as meaning that with minor adjustments wages should be stationary while prices are stationary, Mr Bevin’s address to the conference will have had good results.”

Sues Canal Area Raided.—lt is officially stated in Cairo that there was an air raid on Wednesday night in the Suez Canal area. Bombs were dropped, causing two deaths, and injuring 28 persons. There was slight damage to property.—London, August Si.