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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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