1941-08-23 — Page 2

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THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 23, 1941.

IRAN DIPLOMATIC BATTLE

Berlin Hints On Turkey's Position

Iranian Reply To Britain

SEVERAL DAYS HAVE PASSED

SINCE

THE BRITISH MINISTER AT TEHERAN ASK- ED THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES FOR THE SECOND TIME TO UNDERTAKE TO SEND AWAY THE GERMANS, AROUND 2,000 OR 3,000 STRONG, WHO HAVE GAINED KEY POSITIONS FOR THEMSELVES IN THE IRANIAN POSTAL SERVICES, RAILWAY AND ROADS, DECLARES “THE TIMES" DIPLO- MATIC CORRESPOND ENT.

The correspondent adds that since then there has been little that has been encourag- ing in evidence gained about the terms of the second response which the Iranians apparent- ly propose to make,

The British and Soviet Govern- As was expected the Germon ments still hope the Iranian au- authorities in Berlin are putting thorities will see that their own out hints and threats through neu- independence is being undermin-tral journalists there. ed by the Germans.

The lessons of other countries are plain for all to read.

THESE HINTS SEEM TO IM: CREASE THEIR PRESSURE ON

PLY THE GERMANS MAY IN-

TURKEY IF THEY LOSE THEIR FOOTHOLD.

There is no doubt the Germans find Iran useful already as a base for underground activities j}} On our side, our diplomatic re-

neighbouring countries but, look-presentatives are fully explaining Turks-as well as the

ing a little way ahead, it is equal to the

ly clear the Germans in Iran art | Americans-the there as

a vanguard preparing concern.--Reuter.

the ground for German occupation at the moment which Berlin chooses.

The Crossroads

Many of the techniclana

reasons for

"CAN'T WIN THIS YEAR"

our

Construction of huge air-raid

are shelters at Leipzig, Munich, Vienna netorious German agents; others and other cities far from British

walk with a suspiciously mill-bomber bases is causing growing belief among Germans that they tary tread.

cannot win the war this year, say of travellers reaching Lisbon from

Germany.

The Germans know how impor- tant is Iran as the crossroads the Middle East.

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VERNON BARTLETT

IN MOSCOW

MR. VERNON BARTLETT, M.P., WHO RECENTLY ARRIV. ED IN MOSCOW, CARRIED A MESSAGE OF GREETINGS FROM THE INDIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE IN LONDON TO

M. LOZOVSKY, THE SOVIET SPOKESMAN,

Mr P. B. Seal, Secretary of the Committee, in the course of the message, declared the Committee was pledged to: do its best to further M. Lozovsity's efforts to create a world front for smash- ing Nazism and assured him the Committee, so far. as it was able, would do its best to create an Eastern sector based on the unit- ed front of Russia, Britain and

Reuter. the United States. -

IRANIAN REPLY IN LONDON

It was learned in London yesterday that the Iranian Govern- ment's reply to the British memorandum of August 16 has been handed to the British Minister in Teheran and has now been re- ceived in Lohdon where it is under con- sideration. Reuter.

BURMA IS READY FOR ANYTHING

K.

WHEN Lieutenant-General 'D. McLeod, G.O.C., Burma, referred recently to the ease with which reinforcements could

be switched into Burma, few appreciated the wide area from which such reinforcements could be drawn.

*

IRANIAN ENVOY'S STATEMENT

Iran will resist aggres-

sion from any source even though the odds are 10 to 1, declared Mohamed Chayesteh, Iranian Minis- ter to Washington, after a conference with Mr. Cor- dell Hull, United States Secretary of State yes- terday.

Mr. Chayestel denied that there were any German Fifth Colum- nists in Iran. The total German population in Iran. he said, is about 700. "No visas have been issued to German tourists for the past two years," he added.

"All Germans, as well as other foreigners in Iran are under careful supervision. We believe the maintenance of neutrality' to be in the interests of our neigh- bours, cagecially Great Britain."

After his visit to Mr. Cordell Hull, he said that reports from London that the United

States would support any British or Rus- sian moves in Iran were entirely without foundation.-Reuter,

NIGHTLY CALL ON

Incredible as it seems a group of officers BENGHAZI

and men have now arrived in Rangoon from far Egypt, war bitten and tough, still on their toes ready for the enemies of Democracy wherever they be.

Yesterday's R.A.F. Mid- dle East communique re- ported a raid by R.A.F. bombers on Benghazi of the night

They have known the bitterness Abyssinia.

of Crete. the of the evacuation

In their slouch hats and with during ground of hard battle

Hellfire their "fannies" (long knives with

Pass and the mountain fastness of knuckle-duster handles) a more August 20/21, a number impressive group of hard fighting of direct hits being ob- men it would be difficult to meet.

FORTUNE

RANKS FIRST

IN THE CLASS

-

They spoke of a long unevent-tained on a railway sid-. ful voyage from Egypt and one ing. thought of the long arm of the British Navy which enables On Thursday our bombers at- troops to be transferred from one tacked enemy landing grounds at part of the world to another with- Gambut and Menastir, and South out hestitation or impediment. African fighters, while providing protection for our shipping in the Mediterranean, had several en- gagements with enemy aircraft.

On the previous day South African bombers attacked con- centrations of enemy tanks near Mersa Lukk.

"We Are Ready"

They have come to Burma Ostensibly to learn in the bush warfare school under Burma conditions, but one added: “We are here thanks to the Navy and it our services are requirerous patrols but no combats took Our fighters carried out num-

ed we are ready.”

'One Cockney non-commissioned place.

officer, who was among the last to

leave Crete, had a glint in his un-

Reuter,

dimmed eye and told a simple when faced with the bayonet on straightforward story of the bril-open ground and level terms, he Habt rearguard action he and his bolted.

comrades fought.

They said that the Maoris threw All were of the same opinion, down their heavy equipment and that the German was no fighter grasping only bayonets chased the without his 'plane or machine-Germans round the island like

gun, and told instances of how, mad." — -Router.

JAPAN REVISES ITS PROGRAMME

THE JAPANESE CABINET yesterday ap- proved the revision of the "wartime material mobilisation programme” for the third quar- ter of the current fiscal year.

The alterations follow the freezing of Japanese assets in Britain, the United States and elsewhere.

Four main points of the revised within the co-prosperity sphero

of East Asia:"t

programme are:

Thirdly, guarantee of the nation- Firstly," the opoodlest possible al standard of living.""" expansion of armamenteely Fourthly," "maximum Secondly, establishment of solf- available shipping to facilitate the sufficiency in major materials, operation of the materials mobil- notably iron, steel and coal," isation planteuter.

use of