The decision of Britain and Soviet Russia to invade Iran, and expel the German fifth columnists, who have entered the country in ever-increasing numbers, was not unexpected. The attitude of the Iran Government clearly showed it was completely under the influence of the Germans, and its proclaimed neutrality was but superficial At any time a coup could have been expected in Iran which would definitely range it on the side of the Axis. In the light of that fact it would have been the height of stupidity if the British and Soviet Governments had allowed such a state of affairs to continue, and entry into Iran was the only possible method of protecting the vital interests of both nations. It is to be regretted that such a step has had to be taken, but there was in fact no alternative in view of the recalcitrant attitude of the Iran Government, but in the long run it will be found to have been in the best interests of Iran itself that it should be saved from German ma-climations, The people of Iran had before them the horrible examples of Holland and Norway in which the penetration of the German fifth column rendered the capture of those countries a matter of little difficulty. The work of the German agents in Iran was designed to bring about just such a simile" state of affairs once Turkey could be persuaded to abandon her neutrality and throw her lot in with the Axis, which would mean the extension of the German front deep into Asia Minor. That the British and Soviet are determined to prevent, but in doing so, they will preserve the independence of Iran with which they are not actually at war, but only with the German agents in that country who have to be expelled. It is only to be expected that the enemy press should indulge in a tirade of abuse over this action. They see that the intentions of their Governments are being frustrated, and that the British and the Russians by taking a realise tic view of the situation have stolen a march upon them.
It is not to be expected that the Iranian resistance which it appears is being offered will succeed in stemming the advance of the forces which Britain and Russia have sent into the country. The Iranian army is apparently outnumbered by the thirty divisions, which the Russians are reported to be moving in from the Caucasus, and is in no way as well equipped as either the British or the Russians. For that reason it is to be hoped that the fighting will be as comparatively bloodless as that which had to occur in Syria and Iraq, and that the British and the Russians will succeed in stirring up as little bitterness as possible. But it needs to be remembered that the responsibility for what is happening rests fairly and squarely upon the shoulders of the Iranian Government, A neutrality which permits a country at war to penetrate its territory for the purpose of capturing it by fraud, which is precisely what the Germans were attempting, is no neutrality at all, es diy when the intended victim is warned of what is happening, and persists in turning a deaf ear to all protests.
The temporary occupation of Iran should confer certain very definite advantages on Russia. In the first case it opens up a new route of supplies for the Soviet over the railway stretching from the head of the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea, and should make the supply of much-needed war material easier and provide an alternative to Vladivostok. The linking of the British and Russian forces across the road to India should in itself write "finis" to all German schemes in this direction, while the successful defence of the Caucasian oilfields should be rendered all the more certain. In effect, the combined British-Soviet move should have the result of denying for all time Hitler's aspirations with regard to this highly-important source of oil. But from a psychological point of view this move is also of importance. The initiative is no longer being left to Germany. Britain and Russia in this case acted first and with the maintenance of sufficient strength in that part of the world General Wavell's defence of India should be made all the more effective with every promise of its being successful,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.