Evening star., 1941-08-25

from Bandar Shapur on the Persian
gulf, to Teheran, the most important
means OF communication in the
country. 1t runs on to the Caspian
Sea. The British then could turn
southwark toward the port OF
Bushire.
The British Foreign ONCE de-
clared that there was no intention
to threaten the independence or
sovereignty of Iran, and that rs soon
as the German threat diminished
the British troops would bc with
drawn.
Iranian border guards, recently
heavily reinforced, were reported
yesterday to have been withdrawn
several miles from their frontiers
during the week end TO avoid pre-
c1pitating an incident.
The Red fleets control Of the Cas-
plan Sea, observers in London said.
made a direct expedition against
Trans seat of government at Te-
heran possible. Troops might be
landed on the coast at the little
ports of Abbasabad. Aliabad or
Mahmudabad-all within u miles of
Teheran on the vast Iranian
plateau.
Vulnerable Air Attack.
Iran was described as particularly
vulnerable to air attack-with the
Red air feet operating from the
Baku base on the Caspian Sea
within 800 miles of Teheran and
British bombers within easy strik-
ing distance of the Persian Gulf
ports of Bushire and Bandar Abbas.
Belief was expressed here, how
ever, that little or no such bombing
could be expected until the British
and Russians were convinced Iran
ian resistance could not be broken
by other means.
One Of the prime objecuves of the
British is the Oil pipe line running
from Observation-Disclosures to Abadan
on the Iraq frontier, near Basra.
1t was probable that troops from
Iraq would make this their first
objective.
The Foreign Office said the British
wished to interfere as little as pos
sible with Iran trade and that
British forces would be Withdrawn
"as soon as military conditions per-
nit"
However the British Government
tonight revoked outstanding permits
for exports to Iran and prohibited
any further exports to that country
except under license
Neighbors Informed.
Turkey, Iraq. Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and Afghanistan, the countries most
Immediately concerned in the area,
were notified of the British-Russian
action and informed of the reasons.
Both the British and the Russian
governments had demafided OF Iran
that she expel German tourists and
technicians reported to have filtered
| into the country and taken key COM
munications posts.
The Iranian reply was declared
unsatisfactory at the end of last
week and swift action then was pre-
dicted to end what both London and
Moscow considered a potential
threat to their interests.
A statement by the British For
eign ONCE said:
The Iranian governments reply
to representations August is shows
that it is not prepared to give ade-
quate satisfaction to the recon-
mendations of his majesty.'s govern
ment and the Soviet government IN
this important matter.
TT Is now clear that further
friendly representations to the
Iranian government on the same
| lines as hitherto would serve no
useful purpose and that his majesty 8
government and the Soviet govern
ment must have recourse to other
measures to safeguard their essential
interests
These measures will In no way
| be directed against the Iranian peo-
pie; his majesty's government have
no designs against the independ.
ence and territorial integrity ol
Iran and any measures they may
take will be directed solely aesins,
attempts Of the Axis powers to es-
tablish their control of Iran
The Foreign Once said the
Iranian government appeared
to recognize in principle the
wisdom Of the advice offered by thu
British and Soviet governments
| since it took some steps to reduce
the number of Germans and ad.
mitted the obligation to contro
| those who remained.
mo doubt. however. because they
were reluctant to offend the Ger.
man government even in defense
of their own vital interests, the
proportion of Germans whom the
Iranian authorities actually re-
moved from the country was very
small" the statement said.
Turkish sources said earlier they
expected a British drive from
Baghdad, capital Of Iraq. north
along q Mosul oil field railway Il
the frontier ut Khanaquin, ther
northeast for 350-mile march
across mountains and plateaus te
Teheran.
Another drive was expected from
Basra at the Persian Gulf, proceed
ing $50 miles eastward over good
highways to intersect all of Trans
southern roads.
Roads from the Caucasus init
Iran were wide open and ths
weather was reported excellent.
Teheran reports said Iraniar
forces withdrew IL miles from tn.
SOVIET frontier last week to avoie
border incidents.
Iranians. who had been preparing
Realistically for defense, had taker
the stand that there were only 59t
German males in the countr,
| (Rrif a in Said there uere nn0l vh<