Evening star., 1941-08-26
RussiansC sConfident
Campaign in Iran
Will End Quickly
Allies Seeking to Avoid
Lone-Drown Struggle Like
Those in Iroq and Syrio
BY A. T. STEELE,

yorelgn Correspondent of The Star and
Chicaso Daily News.
MOSCOW, Aug. 26.-The Russians
are confident that the Anglo-Soviet
campaign in Iran will be quickly
consummated.
There is an evident desire by both
the British and Russian camos to
avoid the inconvenience and en-
barrassment of a long -drawn-out
conflict such as the British went
through in Iraq and Syria.
Up to this writing, the Soviet gov
ernment has not severed diplomatic
relations with Iran. I had no
trouble today visiting and interview
ing Iranian Ambassador Mohammed
Said-the stubby, genial and popu-
lar diplomat who ironically enjoys
the prestige of being the dean of
MoScow's diplomatic corps. Said
was summoned to the Kremlin yes
terday morning to hear from For
eign Commissar Vjacheslav M. Mo-
lotov an explanation of the Anglo
Russian move.
The Russian people got the first
intimation Of their governments
action in a radio broadcast at 10
O'Clock. The announcement came
with surprising suddenness, but un-
questionably it was well received by
the Soviet public as an unavoidable
move which gave another and thor
oughly convincing demonstration Of
Anglo-Soviet solidarity in this anti
Fascist war
Typical Comment.
One comment I heard was typi-
AT last we are taking the initia-
tive away from Hitler and his gang"
Moscow's eight-page communique
points out that the object of the
Joint action is to suppress German
inspired diversionist activities in
Iran, aimed at threatening the sta
bility of the Caucasus and the
Turkoman Republic, Soviet areas
adjacent to the Iranian frontier.
The extent of German intrigue in
Iran can only be conjectured, but
that it existed no independent OBJ
server doubts. Especially disturbing
TO the British and Russians were
reports-apparently reliable - that
the Nazis were expending large sums
TO buy off certain key men in the
communications section of the Iran
ian government. This touched close
to a matter of vital concern to the
Soviet, British and American gov
ernments.
AS Iran is one of three practical
routes of entry into Russia, obviously
1t was vitality important to all three
governments that this supply line
be kept wide open and adequately
protected and developed to its max
imum capacity.
Railway Main Artery.
The main supply artery through
Iran is railway running from the
tip of the Persian Gulf to the Cas-
plan Sea, whence goods can be
transported by ship or road over the
Soviet frontier. If this line be-
comes insecure as the result of a
German push, there is a rail and
highway COilIleCllOIl 1uTC TCleT west,
beginning at Karachi, India, and
paralleling Trans eastern border,
finally linking with the Turkish-Si-
berian Railway.
The disadvantage of this route Is
that 600 miles would have to be
traversed by road.
1t is equally plain that neither
Russia nor Great Britain intends to
tolerate wedge of German infu-
ence pointed at the Baku oil fields
and other adjacent potential trou.
BILE centers like India and Afghan
istan. the latter an essentially Mos
lem country.
Diplomatic observers anticipate
that the move also will have 9
beneficent moral influence on Tur.
key as an object lesson Of Anglo.
Soviet determination to brook nc
nonsense.
!(copyrisht. 1e41, Chieaso Daily News Inc.