POSITION IN IRAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 5

POSITION IN IRAN

IMPORTANCE OF BLOCKADE SUPPLY LINE TO RUSSIA. NAZIS SHORT OF TEXTILES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. September 10. A committee consisting of one member of the British Legation, one of the Russian Legation, and the directorgeneral of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been set up in Iran to arrange for the handing over of the German nationals to the Anglo-Soviet authorities. Britain is reported to have demanded that Iran shall hand over the German nationals within 48 hours or Britain and Russia will take further action. The Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, said in the House of Commons today that the Iranian Government, in compliance with the Allied terms, had already informed the German, Italian, Hungarian, and Rumanian Legations in Teheran that the legations must be closed. The German Minister and his staff must leave at once. The Anglo-Soviet occupation of the north and west of Iran, besides opening up a line of supply from the British Empire to Russia, has denied to Germany an important source of textiles, commodities in which she is very seriously deficient as a result of the British blockade. It is stated authoritatively in London that Germany will thus Jose annually about 10.000 tons of wool which, though mostly of a low quality, suitable for carpets, would be of considerable value lor military purposes. especially the manufacture of army blankets. This is equivalent to 5.500.000 blankets. About 20.000 tons of cotton has ceased to go to Germany. This is of good quality, and the loss is serious, being the equivalent of about 30,000,000 bed sheets or 15.000,000 dresses or suits. Germany is extremely short of bed sheets, and all the expelled Jews have been made to leave behind their bed linen. Persia also grows a small amount oi jute of good quality, which the Germans have always needed for hessian or jute bags. Apart from this, jute is produced almost exclusively in the British Empire. Boxwood, of which Persia is almost the only remaining source, is also denied to Germany. This wood is essential to the textile industry, shuttle blocks being made from it, and it is also the only wood from which stemming blocks —used in the . handfilling of shells and bombs for forcing a charge into the case—can be made.

These losses to Germany come on top of the loss of textiles from Russia and Syria and at the very time when they would normally be convex ted into clothing for the winter. It is thought that Germany has now used up all hex stocks and her loot, and there is no doubt that her position with regard to textiles is very grave. FINALLY SETTLED AXIS ACTIVITIES IN IRAN. CLOSING OF LEGATONS ORDERED

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY. September 11. Mr Anthony Eden stated in the House of Commons that the Iranian Government had said it had requested the German, Italian Hungarian and Rumanian Legations to comply forthwith with Britain’s decision for their closure. Orders were also given by the Iranian Government to stop facilities at Axis Legations for communications in cypher or by wireless. Steps were being taken by the Iranian Government to hand over the German community in Iran to the British and Soviet governments. With the settlement of the Iranian situation praise is accorded here to the smooth working of the British-Russian co-operation and it is generally felt that the problem of Axis activities in Iran has been finally settled.-