DANGER TO IRAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 14 August 1941, Page 5

DANGER TO IRAN

GERMAN PRESSURE SERIOUS SITUATION ANGLO-TURKISH TALKS (Reed. Aug. 14, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. The situation in Iran is becoming increasingly more serious, says the Istanbul correspondent of the Daily Express. The British Ambassador to Turkey. Sir Hugh Montgomery KnatchbullHugessen, yesterday discussed the position with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Saracoglu Bey, while Sir Reader Bullard, the British Minister at Jedda, maintained contact with the British Foreign Office throughout the day. The entire Turkish press is disturbed by the alleged British pressure on Iran, but Government action is not expected if the British move. The Iranian Ambassador in Cairo called on the Egyptian Prime Minister and protested against “false reports of German activities in Iran,” which, he declared, had greatly angered the Shah, says the Cairo correspondent of the Daily Express. The correspondent adds that reliable reports from Iran plainly indicate 1 that Hitler is exercising pressure on the Shah to resist British warnings regarding German “tourists.”

Reuter’s Cairo representative says that reports that the Axis plans in Iran have been foiled are regarded as distinctly premature.. It is not yet clear that the Iranian Government fully appreciates the dangers of the situation, despite the energetic parallel British and Russian effort to make Iran realise the menace of German penetrations. Russia is engaged in a life-and-death struggle and has clearly told Iran that she would refuse to tolerate a weakening of Iranian neutrality which would permit “fifth column” activities in the rear of the Russian armies. It is hoped that Iran will show goodwill by expelling the German agents, but on the other hand Iran has allowed more to enter in the last few days.