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ANNEX I.
From IRAN,
Decypher.
Sir R. Bullard (Tehran)
1st February, 1940.
D.
R.
9.30 p.m.
8.53 acme
1st February, 1940.
2nd February, 1940.
No. 29.
140
The
The Military Attaché called at the house of Minister
for War 31st January at the request of the latter. Minister unexpectedly gave the Military Attaché complete
figures of all kinds of aircraft in Iran and then asked for
help in securing aircraft from the United Kingdom which were
needed by the spring for defence of Iran though it might
already be too late. The Minister said that he had instructed
Colonel Shaibani to order thirty Wellington bombers and thirty
Blenheim or Beaufort bombers. Could delivery be expedited?
The Minister agreed that Iran needed fighters and said that
thirty Curtiss machines would probably be bought in the
United States while Colonel Shaibani had been instructed to
try to secure twenty Hurricanes in addition to fifteen
promised by his Majesty's Government.
The Minister indicated
that Italian machines would probably not be bought because of
financial difficulties and of technical objection to the
introduction of another type of aircraft. When the Military
Attaché suggested the need for a larger proportion of fighters
the Minister agreed, but insisted on the necessity to carry
the war into the enemy camp and expressed readyness to
sacrifice half of the bombing strength of Iran in order to
destroy or damage Baku. In conclusion the Minister speaking
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