Nazis in Iran
Mindful of the example of Iraq, where underground German intrigues enabled Raschid Ali temporarily to gain power, the Government of Iran has cogent reasons for paying heed to the warnings addressed to it by Great Britain and Russia. Its attention was called to the danger of harbouring the large number of " tourists " and " technicians " who have been busy in Iran, and to the fact that it is in the interests of Iran herself no less than of Russia and Great Britain that these fomenters of trouble should be sent about their business. The Government appear to have taken some steps to hasten the departure of technicians who were obviously unemployed, and the police are reported to be keeping a closer watch on foreigners, but it is estimated that there are still something like 2,000 Germans or people of German origin—engineers, merchants, railway experts, or simply " tourists "—who are actual or potential agents of the Nazis. The Iranian Govern- ment, warned by the Allies, has also been threatened by the Germans, and is evidently at this stage of the war unwilling to commit itself to the vigorous measures needed. But if the peril from Germany came nearer, the point might be reached when the activities of the enemy in Iran would become as dangerous as they were recently recognised to be in Syria, and similar steps to those taken there would be necessary. The Shah has stopped army leave, and warned his troops that they must be ready for action—against whom can only be surmised.
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