Promises More Dangerous Than Threats

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 196, 19 August 1941, Page 5

Promises More Dangerous Than Threats

FAMILIAR HITLER TECHNIQUE IN IRAN Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 17. Although the British and Russian representations to the Iranian Government regarding the excessive number of Germans in Iran are very strongly expressed, it 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 would be obvious that once he was allowed to place his foot in the door, as happened in the case of Syria, nothing but disaster would be likely to ensue. Hitler’s promises are likely to b€ more dangerous than his tlJreats, 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 in the Middle East by this type of “invasion” of Iran, the eight-point declaration by Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt makes it abundantly clear in the first statement that ‘ 1 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 30011 Germans* in Iran ready to make trouble at their leader’s bidding, especially as they occupy tho most vulnerable post tions in the internal administration and are therefore in a position to do incalculable harm.