Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎214r] (427/807)

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10. German Interests.
W ^ r e i i nai1 Military Attache, Major von Geldern Crespandorf, is not
° Cl f"\ ^ e 1 ( ^ 0 ^ nise( ^’ as is pointed out he is only an assistant military attache.
(n) All German nationals, with the exception of the care and maintenance
^^parties on board the five Hansa Line steamers (approximately fifty-sixty), and
o even Hungarians employed by Messrs. Kampsax have been removed from
uzistan The Hungarians are reported to be fanaticallv pro-German and are
a potential danger.
11. Japanese Interests.
Military Attache, Colonel Takasina, returned to Tehran on
Q e "flu Jamuary after visiting Rome, Berne, Berlin, Stockholm and Moscow. At
Stockholm Colonel Takasina endeavoured to obtain a visa to enter Finland, but
was refused. During the course of a recent conversation the Japanese Military
Attache stated that he was of the opinion that, if Russia did intend attacking
Iran, it would be carried out by mechanised columns, supported by aircraft and
parachutists, but in the early summer. The mechanised columns would advance
simultaneously in Azerbaijan and Khorasan.
12. Italian Interests.
(0 d riestino Shipping Line are to increase their sailings between
Italy and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Strenuous efforts are being made to capture the
trade carried formerly by the Hansa Line.
(ii) Negotiations are still proceeding for the sale of forty to eighty bombers
to the Iranian Government. I he Italian Government are, however, insisting on
payment in cash and will not grant credits.
(iii) As the Iranian Government has refused permission to the Ala Littoria
Airline to extend its service to Tehran, it has now been proposed that a joint
Irano-Italian Airline be formed to operate between Tehran and Rome. ’ The
Ala Littoria Company have sent their Bagdad manager to Tehran to discuss this
new suggestion.
(iv) The Italian Minister, in conversation with the British Military Attache,
said he had heard from German circles that, if Russia attacked Iran, it would
be by means of mechanised columns.
13. United States Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 26 of 1939, paragraph 5. The Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey have now been informed that the Iranian Govern
ment do not intend granting any further concessions during the war.
14. Soviet Interests.
(i) One motorised and one mechanised division have joined the Trans-
Caucasian district.
(ii) Colonel Vasili Alexandrov, Red Army Tank Corps, the new Soviet
Military Attache, arrived in Tehran on the 6th"January. He was accompanied
by his wife and family. Colonel Alexandrov has had over twenty years’ service
in the Red army, for which he wears a Red Star medal. He was originally in the
cavalry and then transferred to the mechanised branch, with which he has served
for over eleven years. He has recently been serving with the Soviet General Staff
in Moscow. This is the first time he has been abroad.
(iii) From Turkish sources it is reported that the 28th (Orgonsitze) Division
and the 76th (Erivan) Division have been transferred to Leningrad militarv
district. The 77th (Baku) Division have also been transferred to an unknown
locality.
(iv) One of the three air brigades (Tiflis, Ganja and Baku) of the Trans-
Caucasian military district has been transferred to the Finnish front.
(v) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 4 of 1939, paragraph 10 (ii). The
Soviet air force officers who escaped from Russia in March 1939 have been oranted
Turkish passports.
(vi) According to French reports there are now four general headquarters
located in Georgia-Armenia. One at Leninakan, two at Tiflis and one at Batumi
Whereas before the war there were only two army corps in that area.