CAB80-8 — Page 150

Page 150

Page 150

ANNEX II.

Copy of Foreign Office imtes on Tehran Telegram No.29 of 1st February, 1940

This telegram raises two matters:

th

(1)

the supply of aircraft to bersia, and

(2)

122

the degree of help which His Hajesty's Government

would be willing to afford the Persian

Government in the event of the latter's being invaded by the soviet Union.

With regard to (1) the question is under consideration by the Air Hinistry, but they do not hold out much hope of

at the possibility of supplying any planes of either kind any rate as soon as the Persians evidently wish to have them.

It is difficult enough to spare bolbers in a good cause without trying to find them for ersia where, as the Persians had been told over and over again, they must be less effective than fighters.

Koreover, their attitude is that if there is to be any question of using British aircraft for the defence of Persia they would much prefer to have them used by the Royal Air Force rather than by the Persian air force.

The position is the same, incidentally, in regard to other ar.S. We are giving the persians a credit for £5,000,000, but we have had to make it plain that this does not mean that we shall have any arms to sell under this credit for a considerable time to co...e.

As regards (2) the conclusions of the War Cabinet meeting of 7th February have reached the department, showing that the Chiefs of Staff have been asked to consider:

(1) their views as to the vulnerability of Russian

oil supplies in the light of this information as to Iran's attitude,

(ii) what action should be taken to follow up the

Linister of war's suggestions.

As regards (2) the attitude of the Service Departments has hitherto been, I believe, that there is no hope of our being able to make available the forces necessary for the defence of Tehran and the Iranian plateau generally and that, whatever the Persians themselves might do to resist the invader, all the British forces could do would be to hold the roads leading from the plateau to Dagdad and Khuzistan (where the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company oil-fields are situated) if possible with the concurrance of the Persian Government, but if necessary without it.

-8-

Page 150

Page 150

Page 150Page 151