Office of the Historian

760C.62/1144: Telegram

The Minister Resident in Iraq (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State

Baghdad, August 29, 1939—1 p.m.
[Received August 29—9:34 a.m.]

46. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has just told me that “our position is clear, we are an ally of England”.

[Page 380]

The German Minister tells me that in the event of war [he?] is ready to depart at a moment’s notice and will turn over interests to Iranian Legation believing that the United States Government would be unwilling to accept charge of German interests.

The British air force have taken measures to protect the pipe line with their local levies and armored car sections together with subsidized tribesmen.

Knabenshue