NAZIS IN IRAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 5

NAZIS IN IRAN

SITUATION BECOMING MORE SERIOUS I BRITISH DIPLOMATIC ACTION. RUSSIA ISSUES BLUNT WARNING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 12. The situation in Iran is becoming increasingly more serious, says the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The British Ambassador to Ankara, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Huges-sen, today discussed the position with the Turkish Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, while Sir Reader Bullard, the British Minister to Jedda, in the Hedjaz, maintained contact with the British Foreign Office throughout the day. The entire Turkish Press is disturbed over the British pressure on Iran, but Government action is not expected if the British move. The Iranian Ambassador to Cairo called on the Egyptian Premier, Sirry Pasha, and protested against “false reports of German activities in Iran,” which he declared had greatly angered the Shah! The Cairo correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that reliable reports from Iran plainly indicate that Hitler is exerting pressure on the Shah to resist the 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 whether the Iranian Government fully appreciates the dangers in the situation, in spite of the energetic parallel British and Russian effort to make Iran realise the menace of the, German penetrations. Russia, engaged in her life and death struggle, has clearly told Iran that she will refuse to tolerate a weakening of Iranian neutrality which would permit Fifth Column activities in the rear of the Russian armies, the correspondent says. 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.