TALKS WITH ALLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1941, Page 5

TALKS WITH ALLIES

CONTINUED BY IRANIAN GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO'PREMIER. HOPES OF EARLY COMPLETION OF OCCUPATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, August 27. The Premier, Ali Mansur, told an extraordinary session of the Iranian Parliament that the Government was continuing conversations with Britain and the Soviet in an endeavour to clarify the reasons and objects of their transgressions. “The Times” diplomatic correspondent says it is hard to imagine that anything the Shah might now say or propose could hold up military operations at this stage. He and his Government ha I every opportuntiy to turn out the German Fifth Column during the weeks of fruitless representations from London and Moscow. Iran has too great a strategic value and is too rich in.oil for Britain and Russia to take further “Daily Telegraph” says that if reports that the Iranians are offering only token resistance are confirmed, • there will be every reason to hope that the Allied operations will be successfully concluded by the weekend. Sixteen obscure German business men, including two running beauty parlours, have received orders from the Iranian police to leave Iran within a fortnight. This is the first police action against Germans. The police collected the passports of 50 other Germans. A hundred German women and children who are voluntarily trying to leave the country, have so far failed because of transport difficulties. This morning’s Simla communique says that today the operations of British and Indian troops continue successfully. The Abadan area, which contains valuable oil refinery plants, has been completely cleared. Two guns, three armoured cars, and 350 prisoners were taken. The communique says that all is quiet at Bandar Shahpur. In the Khanaqin sector, another town has been occupied after night fighting. Another column is advancing along the Kermanshah road. In the course of these operations six Iranian planes were shot down, and two damaged. RUSSIAN REPORT. The Moscow radio reports that the three Russian columns have advanced in the north to a depth of 60 miles, and have captured Tabriz, Dulman, Ardebil near the Caspian Sea, and Lissar, near Ardebil. There is no mention of any opposition. Tabriz is quite used to being captured. In the last war it was captured first by the Turks and then by the Russians. It has also had several earthquakes. Many reports are current in neu- ' tral countries that the Iran Government is anxious to come to terms with Britain and Russia. Last night the Teheran radio broadcast what was stated to be the first war communique. It said that the ■ country had been entered at several places by British and Russian troops, and alleged that several towns had been bombed. It also mentioned naval engagements in the Caspian Sea and naval attacks off the southern coast. The communique added: “Our troops are keeping up resistance and volunteers are pouring in.” ADVANCE TO CASPIAN MADE BY RUSSIANS. NO NEWS OF DOMINION TROOPS IN IRAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, August 27. The latest news of the Russian advance into Iran shows that their troops have occupied a line in the north from Dilman, on the Turkish frontier, through Tabriz to Lissar, on the Caspian Sea. It is stated in London that no information has been received of any Dominion troops being used in the Iranian operations.