Aug. 25.
If it is true that the latest reply of the Iran Government to British representations, concerning the very large number of German agents who have penetrated the country and now occupy key positions, is unsatisfactory, it will not be at all surprising if an ultimatum is served upon Iran to expel them by an early date, German interest in Iran is just as keen as it was in the case of Iraq. Indeed it is, probably keener, for Iran is the world's fourth great producer of all, its output during the last year prior to the outbreak of war amounting to 11,000,- 000 metric tons as. compared with fraq's 4,300,000. If Germany could secure control of the Caucasus, Iran and Iraq she would be able to obtain as much as 43,000,000 attic tons, of all & year, the area 5 tion producing a quantity' second only to United States, It is to be un stood that if Germany were al ly to prosecute her designs, she would completely self-contained so' far as her all [supply was concerned.
Before the last the. independent sovereign state of Persia (Iran) was divided into two spheres of influence, Russian in the north and British in the south, but even earlier than that British interests had secured extensive rights over the greater part of the country, 'The D'Atey concession of 1901, which was the beginnings of the Anglo-Persian Oil' Company's operations, gave exclusive rights to prospect for oil up fo @ Une running north-west and south-east from Teheran. Nine years ago the Tran Government cancelled the concession, which was something in the nature of an inter~ national event, since the British Government is a shareholder in the company. A new agreement, reached in June, 1933, revised {he financial terms of the concession, and cut down the territory to be exploited by about one-half, The main oilfields is in the the product to the head of the Persian Gulf, while running parallel to the pipertine dnd continuing to the Caspian is way which was completed August, 10938, It will be noticed that not only for reasons of fuel supply, but also because of its strategical position, Iran. has. considerable importance In the eyes of Great Britain, for the butter state between Turkey' and 'Afghanistan and consequently across one of the roads which Hitler may' seek to follow when he commences, if ever he does, his alleged scheme to attack India, Of recent Weeks, especially. following. the successful British. action in Iraq, considerable activity amongst German agents was to be noticed Iran. 'To those Germans who were already in the country were added those others expelled from Iraq, "It was inevitable that British first should become gravely concern ed, and that Soviet Russia would' be. in the same case when the German Invasion' of her ferritorieg Was commenced, Both Govern= ments have been bringing pressure to bear upon Tran, but "without success "up to. the present, "the Government. at 'Teheran aparently endeavouring to side-step the issue fen the ground. that" instead ofthe 2,000 German "agents which "Britain" and Russia claim: to be in the country, there are no more than 'a mere' 690, 'That is the figure admitted by Germany and, adopted. by the Iranian Government, Supporting the suggestion that German fluence at 'Teheran is considerable and. inspiring' the policies of the Iranian Goy-jemment. It' may be. stated at once that the German figure is correct then "Hitler Is not doing his job efficiently, and as that 1s the very last ctiarge which an be levelled against him the assumption is that "Berlin Is lying as usual when it insists upon the smallness of the number of agents it has got in Tran, It would be a grave. mistake fon the pari of the British Government it it permitted "the continuance. of German, activities against its interests in Tran, and, it insists upon Tran putting its house in order as it did in the ease of Iraq, there will one but the enemy to criticize it for doing. This may Jead to armed Interven ton, but it is believed that if Britain and the "Soviet Union ered, promptly the" Ger man menace in this part of the World could be speedily' and inexpensively eradicated.
'He, who does, not provide for his. own house. si, Paul says, "is worse than an infidel"; and T think he who provides only for' his own house is just equal with an'Infdel—~Dean Sioift,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.