NO EXTRAVAGANT TERMS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 287, 1 September 1941, Page 8

NO EXTRAVAGANT TERMS

Demands To Iran 1 * WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY § Mr. Eden’s Statement

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received August 31, 7 p.m.)

RUGBY, August 30.

It is learned in London that the Anglo-Russian terms will shortly be presented to the Iranian Government. They have already been agreed upon by the British and Russian Governments. It can be assumed that they will fulfil the undertaking to interfere as little as possible with the internal affairs of Iran, while safeguarding British and Russian interests in ways that have already been indicated on different occasions. Axisinspired rumours that the British might depose the Shah were described ilk London today as ridiculous.” • •

The problem created by German aciivitv In Iran has not been a new one, declared the Foreign ) Secretary, Mr. Eden, in an address at Coventry. As long ago as January, he said, he had warned the Iranian Government of the aanger which tile existence and composition of this large German colony must create. Whether those Germans Iran were numbered by hundreds or Thousands, nobody witii knowledge of live Nazis’ svstem could doubt the true purpose of their presence in Iran. Nobody had disputed that among them were many young men of military age, physically and mentally well fitted to take their place in the ranks of Germany’s fighting forces, yet the German Government encouraged them to huger in Iran. Nobody supposed they weye there for their health alone. Rebel Iraqi’s Lair.

Nor could Britain forget that much of the German activity which, preceded the abortive rebellion in Iraq, was organized from Iran by German agents. Xfter the collapse, of that rebellion many of Raschid All's partisans fled to Iran, and till recently they were still there and in communication with the Nazi diplomatic circles in the Iranian capital. ' “Wheu our representations to tne Iranian Government met with no adequate response 'there was only one course open-to kill the Nazi snake before it struck,” Mr. Eden said. Lhis is now being done. The Iranian Government and people, I am confldeiu, understand in their hearts the .motive for our-action. They appear as a result to have offered only token resistance, and even that has now ceased. -The Soviet Government and ourcelves are in full agreement, and the Iranian Government will soon know what are the conditions we must impose. They are not extravagant, and they are, of course, only temporary. "Meanwhile, let us make plain once again our general attitude. We have no territorial claims against Iran. We covet no square inch of Iranian territory. We have no design, nor have our. Russian allies, to annex any Part q£ the areas our forces have occupied. His Majesty’s Government and the Soviet Government repeatedly assured the lianian Government of their determination to respect the political independence and territorial integrity of Iran, and we repeated that pledge to the Government of Turkey and other neighbouring countries. As soon as military conditions .permit we shall withdraw our forces. “I hope that out of the troubled events of the last few weeks may grow a closer and more intimate friendship between the Allies and Iran. IV e know that a strong and independent Iran is an essential element in the stability of the Middle East.”

DURATION OF WAR Likely Occupation Terms iHGtisb Ullkial Wireless.) RUGBY, August 29. Commenting on the “sober counsels which have now prevailed in Iran,” the "Daily Telegraph” states that the conciliatory tone adopted by the new Government Will be warmly welcomed in London and Moscow, “whose only desire was to safeguard their interests, with minimum loss alike to the Iranian people and to themselves.” In its forecast of the terms of agreement between. Iran, Britain and Russia, the “Telegraph” states: “It is clear that the minimum terms acceptable to the two allies must include the expulsion of the Nazis and the continued occupation of key positions by tfie British and Russian troops. "Too much is at stake in Iran to permit of our taking any further risks. It seems that a few hours after the Allied troops crossed the frontier the Shah was already offering to expel the Nazis within a week, provided the advance was halted. Obviously, there could be no question of our stopping the operations at that point. The Shah had had many months in which to deal with the “Fifth Column” menace, but he had obstinately rejected every representation, When at last we were reluctantly compelled to resort to forcible measures there could be no going back. “For the duration of the war against Hitler the occupying forces will remain in Iran to guarantee the immunity of the country from Nazi domination and to protect our own vital interest, including especially communications between Russia and the Persian Gulf. It may be assumed that the occupation will be restricted to the smallest area and the fewest number of troops necessary to secure these ends.”