IRANIAN REPLY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1941, Page 6

IRANIAN REPLY

FEARS OF TAKING PUNITIVE ACTION. LEST NAZIS RETALIATE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) ANKARA, July 30. The Associated Press of Great Britain states that the Iranian Government, it is reported, has informed the British Minister at Teheran that no German technicians could be expelled without seriously affecting Iran's neutrality and normal relations with Germany. High officials, it is reported, have expressed understanding with the British view that German activities are a source of danger to Iran, but declined punitive action against German nationals because that would infringe Iran’s sovereignty, in addition involving German retaliation. However, the Government assured the British Minister that precautionary steps would be taken, including the appointment of commissions to operate the radio stations which two German experts are running. The Germans are expected to leave Iran after being relieved of their duties. Unofficial reports from Iran indicate that the Germans might sponsor a coup d’etat arid instal pro-Germans in power. A strong German sentiment is believed to have developed in army circles. Many, if not the majority, of the Germans in Iran have come in recent years in order to assemble and instal German industrial machinery, of which the Iranians have been large purchasers, an earlier message states. Other Germans are engaged in training Iranians in the use of the machinery. The maximum estimate of the number of Germans, which is deemed excessive, is 5000. Other estimates are from 2000 to 2500. The number of Germans in Afghanistan is much smaller, but here also there has been a marked increase in the number of “technicians.” The situation of Afghanistan between the Indian Empire and Russia might well encourage Germany to send agents and propagandists, hoping to stir up trouble on one or other flank, and the British Minister has drawn attention of the Afghan Government to the dangerous possibilities as a result of the influx of “technicians and specialists.”