BRITISH MAY MOVE INTO IRAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 189, 13 August 1941, Page 5

BRITISH MAY MOVE INTO IRAN

TURKEY IS UNEASY SOLE DESIRE TO KEEP “OUT OF THE WAR

(Reed. 7.30 p.m.) London, Aug. 11. A British demarche concerning German fifth column activities in Iran is viewed with mixed feelings in Turkey, reports The Times’ Ankara correspondent. Political circles seem worried over the situation. With wac clouds gathering on the Turkish horizon any cause of moi . complications is extremely distasteful to the Turks, whose only desire is to keep out of trouble.

While generally suspicious of th i German innuendoes, the Turks are i lending '. more complaisant ear to hints tha< the Brit’sh demarche is merely a pretext *or further demands with the ultimate object of occupying Iran in order to establish contact with Russia. Iran has asked Turkey to appeal to Britain on her behalf, but Turkey is not disposed to do more than preach moderation. Turkey believes a solution might be reached if the Germans who recently arrived in Iran, whose presence is not justified, were invited to leave. Uneasiness is growing in Istanbul as reports of unusual Axis troop movements in Bulgaria and south-eastern Europe continue to be confirmed, says the British United Press correspondent at Istanbul. German troops from Libya, still wearing desert kit. are to be seen in large numbers in Bulgaria. The number is estimated as at least two divisions. Observers point cut that Istanbul is the best port from which to launch a sea-borne expedition against Sebastopol or the Crimea, and to service Axis armies across the Black Sea. The Basra correspondent of the Daily. Mail says that British and American military supplies are pouring continuously into Turkey through the Iraqi port of Basra, whence th? supplies are rushed northward by river and rail immediately they are unloaded from the ships. The self-confidence of Turkey, he states, has grown since Britain rendered the Basra supply route safe. The Turkish shipments are given priority over all but the most urgent military supplies for the British. Turkish-German negotiations for a new trade agreement are at a standstill. says The Times Ankara correspondent. It is officially stated that the Turkish Minister conducting the talks is on holiday, but it seems the causes for the postponement go deeper. It is more likely that the Turks demurred over the German demands. which were considered excessive and dangerous. German negotiators were ordered to return. German circles in Budapest I say the time is not ripe for economic | negotiations, Germany preferring to wait, for clarification of the Russian situation, when it is hoped thai'.Turkey will be more tractable. —U.P.A. i