Ext 5000/41(1) 'Persia: situation leading up to, and after, the Allied occupation' [‎290r] (579/606)

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0656/5 July.
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From C.in C* East Indies* Date 1I.7*W%
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INTER SERVICE X (BY CABL ED- v/ r\ "T 1
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Addressed Admiralty Repeated F.O.C.R.I.N* Armindia
Middle East. j •; ^ /. 1
HOTWT*
446. Most Secret. (1) Following received from
Mr. A.C. Embrechts in interview with S.O.(l) Colombo,.
Embrechts is Belgian and has spent six years in Teheran
in International Standard Electrical Corporation and
employed since June 1940 in Belgian Legation. He
appeared reliable, of considerable ability and loyal to
allies. I have no reason to doubt his \x>rd as almost
all he said has appeared in Intelligence reports from
time to time.
2, Begins. (A) German hold on communication system in
Iran is complete and v/hen trouble begins it will be
impossible for us to obtain any information v/hatsoever from
that country, (b) About 2000(2000) Germans of Military age now
in the country and highly organised for fifth column
activities and sabotage (c) German propaganda supreme.
(l)) Food shortage in country is acute and starvation in the
villages is rife. This will lead to great difficulties
should we ever decide go take over an area such as the
oil fields where there are no reserve stocks and distribution
is difficult. He suggest stocks be built up now in
properties of ,;nglo Iranian Oil Company. (E) Serious
disorders shortly are inevitable.
3, He was most emphatic in attributing this serious state
of affairs to luck of energy and leadership of senior
British Officials which in turn affects the efficiency
of Junior Officials. He also stressed his opinion that
there existed a lack of co-ordination between the difierent
British Authorities in this area generally who he feels
fail to realise the seriousness of the danger com renting
them. Most foreigners especially from German occupied
territories he says are sitting on the fence v/aiting m vain
for a British lead.
4, How much truth there is in these opinions I am unable
to judge but it is interesting to have the view of a
foreigner who has been for some six years in c-ose touch
with the Official and Commercial communities and is
obviously a staunch supporter of the Allied cause.
0656Z/5#
Advance Copy Duty Capt.D.O.B.(F),D*J.I.G,
Hd. of M.
part 6 and final not yet received.
Referred to in C.in C. East Indies 1940/0.
1st Lord.
1st S.L.
V.C.N.8.
A.C.N.S.(F)
H.n.lst S.L.
D.O.b.(F).
D.D.O.D.(F)
D.N.I.(4)•
D. of P.(2).
Duty Capt.
E. P.3.
Hd. of 11.(3)
I#P,(2).
D.D.I.G.
Y7.D, .
N.I/D.JO. Pay Cdr. Wilson.
mcl for War Office.
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