740.0011 European War 1939/14730: Telegram
The Minister in Iran (Dreyfus) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—3 p.m.]
137. The British Minister informs me he has received his instructions as to expulsion of Germans but since his Russian colleague has not they cannot yet be divulged. He told me in strict confidence however that the matter has taken a more serious turn since British terms were presented August 30 and that it now appears other Axis nationals will be expelled and that the German, Italian, Bulgarian [Page 449] and perhaps other Legations will have to leave Iran. He intimated this change last night to Foreign Minister who was of the opinion that the entire Cabinet might resign rather than submit thereto.
In my opinion this drastic change is the result of the complications brought on by the offer of asylum by the Turks (see my No. 13026) and the highhanded attitude the Germans in Tehran have assumed since their first sigh of relief that their necks were temporarily safe from the dreaded Russians.