740.0011 European War 1939/14442: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 28—9:56 a.m.]
3918. My 3916, August 27, and air mail despatch 1359, August 26.12 Foreign Office has given me the following account of the course of events at Tehran following the presentation of the British memorandum of August 16 (my 3511, August 8, 10 p.m., and air mail despatch 1184, August 913).
“On the 19th August the Iranian Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs gave Sir R. Bullard14 an oral reply to His Majesty’s Government’s memorandum of August 16th. He explained that 3 Germans who were understood to have engaged in undesirable activities would leave within a week and at least 100 would leave within a month, after which time the removal of Germans would be accelerated on the basis of schemes being prepared in all Ministries. The Iranian Government were not willing to provide lists of the Germans whose departure was required. The written reply would follow.
This written reply was received by Sir R. Bullard on August 21. It was in very general terms stating that the Iranian Government regretted to observe in the British memorandum of August 16, matters incompatible with their policy of neutrality; nevertheless, the Iranian Government’s policy had from the first been to require superfluous foreigners to leave the country and this policy was now being carried out with greater care and speed. The number of foreigners in Iran had lately been specially reduced and the numbers would soon show a remarkable diminution. The Iranian Government could not put into practice in respect of the nationals of one state steps which would be incompatible with their arrangements and contrary to their treaties and which would lead to the abandonment of their neutral course. The Iranian Government added that they could not accept any proposal whatsoever which was contrary to their policy of neutrality or to their rights of sovereignty.
This unsatisfactory reply was supplemented by an oral message from the Shah conveyed to Sir R. Bullard by the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs on August 23. The Shah stated his desire that Sir R. Bullard and his Government should have no cause for anxiety and repeated personally the assurance already given. He had already given orders for the Iranian Government’s programme to be put into execution and he assured Sir R. Bullard that it would be accelerated [Page 437] and that he would soon see a great reduction in the number of Germans, particularly in large centers of the population.
It is clear from these communications that the Iranian authorities have no intention of adequately meeting our requirements. There is, moreover, clear evidence to show that the Shah and his ministers have been influenced in taking their decision by the view that the Russo-German campaign is bound to end in a German victory. Sir R. Bullard has also reported that the Iranian Government’s policy has been drawn up in consultation with the Germans and there is reason to believe that this is the case.
Sir R. Bullard has therefore been instructed to communicate to the Iranian Government on August 25 the communication of which a copy is attached. He has been authorized to make it clear orally that in the view of His Majesty’s Government there is no reason why the measures taken by them should lead to any material alteration in the financial, economic, and other relations normally existing between Iran and the British Empire. There is for instance no reason, if the Iranian Government cooperate in such ways as they can, why the oil royalties should not continue to be paid as hitherto. His Majesty’s Government also have no wish to interrupt supplies to Iran of vital economic needs from British Empire sources.”
Following is text of the communication which the British Minister at Tehran was authorized to make to the Iranian Government on August 25:
“The attention of the Imperial Iranian (Persian) Government has frequently been drawn to the need for taking action to secure the removal from Iran of the German community. The presence of German technical experts and advisers throughout Iran, employed in factories and in public works as well as on roads and railways and in many other important posts where their activities might constitute a serious danger, is regarded by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom as a matter of the utmost gravity which closely affects their own interests. His Majesty’s Government have therefore repeatedly urged that a drastic reduction should be made in the number of these Germans. These friendly representations to the Iranian Government culminated in the memorandum communicated to them on the 16th August, in which the Iranian Government were urged once again to take steps to arrange for the German community to leave Iran without any further delay. This communication of the 16th August contained a proposal devised in order to meet Iran’s special needs, by which a few German technicians engaged on important work in connection with Iranian industrialization projects be retained temporarily and it was suggested that a list of those German nationals whom it might be desired to retain for essential work should be communicated to His Majesty’s Minister without delay. His Majesty’s Government also offered in this communication of the 16th August to assist the Iranian Government by endeavoring to find suitably qualified British or neutral experts to replace the German technicians who had left and they added that they would gladly concert with the Iranian Government measures to alleviate any temporary hardships that might be caused by the simultaneous departure of large numbers of trained personnel.
[Page 438]- 2. It is regretted that the Iranian Government have not seen fit to return a satisfactory reply to the memorandum of the 16th August. It is evident that the Iranian Government attach greater importance to retaining these German nationals in Iran than they attach to meeting the wishes of His Majesty’s Government in a matter which is becoming one of increasing urgency as a result of developments in the war situation. The Iranian Government must bear the fullest responsibility for the consequences of their decision.
- 3. In these circumstances His Majesty’s Government now feel themselves obliged to take appropriate measures to safeguard their own vital interests and to deal with the menace arising from the potential activities of the Germans in Iran. The Iranian Government may be assured that these measures will in no way be directed against the Iranian people. His Majesty’s Government have no designs directed against the independence of Iran or her territorial integrity. Any military measures which British forces may be obliged to take are of a temporary nature only, and will not outlast the present emergency, since they are directed solely against the Axis Powers.”