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4. On the other hand I am inclined to think that those who represent
the Shah’s views see that Hitler’s “peace offer’’ afforded no basis for
negotiation. Monsieur Jam (then Prime Minister, now Minister of the
Court) told me, after the speech that he thought it the speech of a madman.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is rather fond of speculating in
general terms, has spoken to me of what Hitler’s position might now be
if he had kept the undertaking given at Munich to settle future questions
by peaceful means. If he had done so, Monsieur A’lam said, he would
almost certainly have obtained all that Germany needed, and would now
be one of the most popular figures in the world. These remarks are, I am
aware, of no particular intrinsic interest: but both Monsieur Jam and
Monsieur A’lam are, or were, fairly close to the Shah and one may suppose
that their views as to Hitler’s responsibility for the war reflect those of
His Majesty.
5. The commercial and financial situation of Iran naturally remains
difficult. There is now a tendency to turn to the United States for supplies,
and enquiries are being made there, for among other things, rails, tyres,
aeroplanes, and a loan. I am told that the Iranian Government are becom
ing suspicious of German assurances that they will be able to continue
supplies of machinery and other industrial material on a practically un
diminished scale.
6. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s Ambassador
at Baghdad, to the Secretary to the Government of India in the External
Affairs Department, and to the Middle East Intelligence Centre, Cairo.
(32)
No. 140.
To:
The Secretary to the Government of India in the External Affairs
Department, New Delhi.
With the compliments
His Majesty's Representative.
Tehran desp. No. 342 of 31/10/39 to F. 0. (Ref. our tel. No 56 of
19/10/39).
British Legation,
Tehran,
'31st October 1939.
Enclosure to S. No. (32).
Despatch from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, to the Foreign Office,
London, No. 342 (768/3/39), dated the 31st October 1939.
With reference to my telegram No. 158 of 19th October [S. No. (25)],
I have the honour to report that my Japanese colleague informs me that
the treaty signed on 18th October between Japan and Iran consists merely
of four articles, providing for friendship between the two States, and
diplomatic and consular relations. It does no more, the Minister'said
than provide for what already exists,
2. Mr. Nakayama also told me that negotiations for a commercial'
treaty had not begun. He said that such a treaty had actually been signed
some eight years ago (this is presumably the treaty of 18th October f932)
but had never been ratified, or submitted to the Majliss for approval, bn
his arrival here in 1937 he had taken up the matter but had been told that
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