740.0011 European War 1939/14201: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—9:13 a.m.]
305. British Ambassador now informs me that August 11 he and his Soviet colleague jointly waited upon Turkish Minister for Foreign [Page 401] Affairs and read him for his information similar although not identical statements (Russian one being considerably more full and of harsher implications) as to representations which their respective Governments had made to Iranian Government as to necessity of removing German fifth columnists. Apparently Minister’s only reaction was to question number and importance of those constituting such element. (British now estimate them at 2,000 excluding families but in key positions such as communications and oil industry.)
2. When I asked Minister’s views on Iranian situation and possible developments yesterday he was conspicuously noncommittal but did eventually acknowledge that Turkey regards with apprehension any possible military activity there. While he made no specific reference to it there can be no doubt that Turks are particularly apprehensive of having Russia come into occupation of Iranian territory bordering their undefended and apparently less easily defensible boundary with Iran.
Repeated Moscow, Tehran.