informed him of the jamming operations mentioned in my 99. He expressed surprise at this information and promised to take action. I further mentioned the danger to the railways to which he replied that he has an agent watching each bridge and strategic point. My opinion previously expressed in No. 67 is that the Iranians are doing everything they can to control fifth column activity but that their action is too weak and desultory to offer effective check to the efficient Germans. The official Iranian viewpoint in the present crisis as frankly given to me by the Foreign and Prime Ministers is that while the Iranians will agree to expel Germans gradually from Iran they deeply resent the peremptory nature of the demands and do not at all like "being pushed around by the British". Further they are resentful of the campaign of false and distorted news being waged against them by the British and Russians. The Prime Minister told me in strictest confidence that he feels the British are not basing their action on the merits of the case but rather are seeking a pretext to occupy the north of Iran because of the military necessity of making contact with the Russians. The Foreign Minister informed me that the British have proceeded in a highhanded rather than a friendly way never having approached Iran to suggest closer cooperation or the forming of an alliance. In short the Iranians are willing to cooperate in what they consider a reasonable program for the expulsion of Germans but refuse to be cowed into accepting the arbitrary British-Russian demands. The Iranian answer to the British and Russian notes was delivered last night. In almost identical terms to both the answer consisted of nine points couched in general and vague language. It was notable in omitting any reference to the word German using instead the term foreigner. The first four points are of little importance being confined largely to profession of friendship and other formalities. The fifth declares it to be the policy of the Government to discharge all foreigners when their services can be spared while the sixth states this policy is being accelerated due to present conditions so that large numbers of foreigners will soon leave. The seventh is to the effect that Iran alone will determine which foreigners will leave, while the eighth states there will be equal treatment for all foreigners. The ninth declares that the Government, while it is willing to carry out any plan to help a neighbor is unwilling to do anything [omission?]. Both the Russian and British envoys told me they consider the answer as wholly unsatisfactory. It is considered almost certain in well-informed circles here that the British and Russians will invade Iran. The only speculation is as to whether an ultimatum will first be delivered. DREYFUS 740.0011 European War 1939/13803: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) WASHINGTON, August 23, 1941-5 p. m. 71. A United Press despatch from London was received in this country on August 21 stating that the President "has approved whatever action Great Britain and Russia deem necessary to purge Iran of Nazi influences." It is further stated in this despatch that the question of Iran was dealt with thoroughly at the conference between the President and the British Prime Minister.85 You should inform the Foreign Office without delay that the President has denied the accuracy of the despatch above mentioned. The Secretary has informed the Iranian Minister that the despatch is untrue. HULL 740.0011 European War 1939/13803: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) WASHINGTON, August 23, 1941—5 p. m. 3352. A United Press despatch from London was received in this country on August 21 and has been given publicity stating that according to "an authoritative source" the President "has approved whatever action Great Britain and Russia deem necessary to purge Iran of Nazi influences." It is further stated in this despatch that the question of Iran was dealt with thoroughly at the conference between the President and the British Prime Minister. You are requested to ascertain if possible the identity of the source above mentioned and to report by telegraph. The President and I have both denied the accuracy of the despatch in question. You should so inform the Foreign Office and voice the regret of this Government that such a report should have been circulated. You should also state that there has been no change in the position of this Government in the matter of Iran from that indicated in the Department's 3182, August 16,7 p. m. HULL 740.0011 European War 1939/13803: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) WASHINGTON, August 23, 1941–5 p. m. 147. 1. On August 8, the British Foreign Secretary informed our Ambassador at London that the British and Soviet representatives at Known as the Atlantic Conference, August 9-12, 1941; see vol. 1, pp. 341 ff. 409021-59-27 Tehran would deliver parallel notes to the Iranian Government on August 16 insisting that most of the Germans in Iran be expelled from that country without further delay. Mr. Eden stated to our Ambassador that it would be of great help if the American Minister at Tehran were to be authorized to say to the Iranian Government that in his opinion the British and Russian point of view is a right and necessary one and that it should be met by the Government of Iran. The British Foreign Secretary also expressed the hope that our Ambassador at Ankara might be authorized to express approval of the move as necessary and one which is not designed to impair the political status of Iran. 2. The Department thereupon instructed the Minister at Tehran on August 16 not to associate himself with the representations of his British and Soviet colleagues, in the absence of instructions to do so, but to express to the Iranian Government the earnest hope of this Government that all necessary measures were being taken to avoid a spread into Iran of Nazi activities which could not fail to result disastrously for that country. The Minister was authorized to cite the examples of Iraq and Syria in that connection. 3. On the same date our Ambassador at London was authorized to inform Mr. Eden that we do not wish our Minister to take part in the joint representations being made in Tehran, but that in his conversations on the subject with the Iranian Government he would bear them in mind. 4. A United Press despatch from London was received in this country on August 21 and has been given publicity stating that the President approved whatever action may be considered necessary by Great Britain and Russia to purge Iran of Nazi influences. It was further stated in this despatch that the question of Iran was dealt with thoroughly at the conference between the President and the British Prime Minister. 5. The President and I have both denied the accuracy of the press despatch above mentioned. 6. You are authorized to make free use of the foregoing information in your conversations with Turkish officials. HULL 740.0011 European War 1939/14275: Telegram The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State LONDON, August 23, 1941-midnight. [Received August 23-8: 20 p. m.] 3840. Personal for the Secretary of State. This morning I talked with Mr. Eden. He wanted you to know how seriously they view the German agents in Iran. The British are certain that their negotiations with the Iran Government are being directed by the Germans. I felt Mr. Eden was simply asking for a sympathetic understanding of their problem. WINANT 740.0011 European War 1939/14281: Telegram The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State TEHRAN, August 24, 1941-9 a. m. [Received 8:55 p. m.] 102. The Shah last night sent the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to the British Legation to assure the British Minister that the Germans in Iran will be expelled with accelerated tempo. The assurance was immediately sent to London. The growing willingness on the part of the Iranians to expel appreciable numbers of Germans from the country has been evident in the conversations between British and Russian envoys and high Iranian officials. The attitude is, however, at variance with the written and formal record, for example, with the unbending tone of the written reply to the notes, the tenor of the Shah's speech reported in my No. 98 86 and with the tone of last night's editorial in Etapent [Ettelaat?], which in referring to the Shah's speech called the people to action and sacrifice to save their honor. Thus the Iranians while maintaining a defiant attitude for face-saving purposes and for the record are in fact willing to make concessions. The first general expulsion order was, it is reliably reported, given yesterday when 16 Germans, mostly barbers and unimportant persons, were directed to leave Iran within 2 weeks. It is understood that the German Legation has protested against the order. There are no other local developments of importance. The situation this morning may be described as one of marking time awaiting the next British-Russian move. DREYFUS 740.0011 European War 1939/14306: Telegram The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State ANKARA, August 24, 1941-noon. [Received 9 p. m.] 311. I learn that some days ago Iranian Ambassador requested advice of Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs as to course which his Government should pursue in face of demands of British and Russians that it expel alleged German fifth columnists. He said his Govern ment was in fact getting rid of a number of them but that demands were so exigent as to suggest ulterior motives. While stating that he could not undertake to answer on behalf of Turkey until he had consulted with his governmental colleagues Saraçoglu recalled that in making to him formal communication as to intentions of their Governments (my 305, August 20, 7 p. m.) British and Soviet Ambassadors had given assurances that they would fully respect independence and integrity of Iran and said that for his own part he had complete confidence in that assurance. I understand that after few days temporizing he received Ambassador and informed him that while Turkish Government had no concrete suggestions to offer it nevertheless hoped that Iranian Government might find amicable means of settling difficulty. 2. I construe this as a somewhat guarded intimation that Turkey would prefer to have Iran yield to demands. Such attitude would accord with Turkish desire to avoid occasion for Russian occupation of adjacent Persian territory. But it is to be noted that Turkish press is in general hostile to idea of coercing Iran in this matter. Repeated to Tehran. MACMURRAY 740.0011 European War 1939/14299: Telegram The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Moscow, August 24, 1941-2 p. m. 1567. For the President, the Secretary and Under Secretary. In a conversation with the Iranian Ambassador 87 yesterday he said that his Government had replied to the Soviet and British notes demanding the expulsion of all Germans with a flat rejection on the grounds that the subject was distinctly the internal affair of the Iranian Government and that the demand constituted an infringement of the sovereignty of Iran. He described the Soviet and British notes as "impertinent". He said that notwithstanding the formal rejection the Soviet and British Governments had been orally informed that the Iranian Government was taking measures to expel the Germans. The Ambassador then went on to state: (1) that Soviet participation in the joint demand had been at British "instigation"; (2) that after castigating Germany for having sacrificed the Baltic States in 1939 in order to curry favor with the Soviet Union, Britain was about to sacrifice Iran in order to curry favor with the Soviet Union; (3) that the present attitude of the British Government towards Iran was a poor reward for having sided with Britain and safeguarded its interests during the past 2 years; (4) that Iran would defend itself as 87 M. Saed. |