ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ٧ "الحرب الألمانية: بلاد فارس" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٠] (٥١٩/٤٤٤)

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Mr. Howard to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received April 4,
*5 P.M.)
SWEDEN
yvr on ^ P ij I L ] Stockholm, April 4, 1915.
^°’\/rV f i ' \t p;q tit -r> (April 4=, 2 , 2h p.u.)
MY telegram No. 58 of ( 26th March : Persian gendarmerie
Note from Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs now'received declares that
accusations against Swedish officers are, according to information received bv the
Swedish (government, without foundation.
It states thnt there are at present in Persia no Swedish officers, either on active or
reserve hstlj. In any case, Swedish Government could not give Him 011 dcrt orders to
officers in Persian service regarding districtslttJWoia in which they serve. ~
However, in order to meet the wishes of His Majesty’s Government, Swedish
Government has decided not to permit any officers to return to Persia to take up
service again. Other Swedes, who are serving in Persia as private individuals, are
not under the orders of the Swedish Government. Nevertheless Swedish Government
are ready, if His Majesty s Government wishes, and will guarantee such individuals
against loss involved m breach of contract, to inform them that it would he opportune
if they would leave the service of their own accord. (End of R.)
(Confidential.)
From what Minister for Foreign Affairs has said to my French colleague and to
me, it is evident that Swedish Government are very sore about accusations made
against Swedish officers, to whom he had, through officer commanding, given orders to
observe strictest neutrality. He has said more than once that, while it served no
interest of Sweden to keep officers in Persia, he always hoped that they would be able
to act as a sort of buffer between conflicting British and Russian interests there.
I have replied that, while we appreciated good organising work done, it was not
possible any longer, in view of evidence, to close eyes to the fact that many of them
sympathised openly with our enemies, which, considering the known sentiments of
officers of Swedish army, was not surprising. In these circumstances His Majesty’s
Government were, to their regret, compelled to take the course they had.
(Repeated to Petrograd.)
OCAjz
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