Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎281v] (562/807)

(iii) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 15 (1940), paragraph 6 (i). l^ight
“ Rearwin,” United States training machines, have been delivered in cases at
Doshantappeh. Seventeen others are on shipboard for Iran. 1 wo American pilot-
mechanics are expected shortly to put these aircraft in working order.
It is believed also that the “ Rearwin ’ manufacturers were approached by
the Iranian authorities with a suggestion that their aircraft be built in Iran.
They are not interested. i
5. British Interests.
(i) On the 20th January Mr. Knight, chief representative of Messrs. Hawkers
at the Doshantappeh aircraft factory An East India Company trading post. , was informed in writing that the services
of the British aircraft mechanics would lie no longer required if raw materials,
&c., were not forthcoming immediately for the construction of Hurricane aircraft.
The notice is believed to have come direct from the Shah himself.
The majority of the British aircraft mechanics do not wish to continue
working in Iran and would prefer to be employed in the new aircraft factory An East India Company trading post. in
India or else return home.
(ii) His Majesty’s Legation suggested to His Majesty’s Government that
food parcels should be sent from here to British prisoners of war in Germany, to
relieve the strain on food supplies and transport at home. This has been approved
in principle.
6. U.S.S.R. Interests.
Cases said to contain arms and munitions made in Russia or Germany have
been passing through Iran in transit for another country, possibly China. They
arrive at Bandar Shah and are taken by the Trans-Iranian railway to the south.
7. German Interests.
(i) Further notes on the Nazi organisation in Iran are given in Appendix A( )
to this summary.
(ii) Notes on suspected German agents in Iran are given as Appendix B(‘)
to this Summary.
(iii) The Germans have placed a large order, said to be worth 1 million rials,
for cloth and blankets with the woollen mills at Isfahan. This order must,
however, be sanctioned by the Imperial Government.
(iv) General-Lieutenant Koestring, senior military attache at Moscow,
arrived in Tehran about the 17th December. He lodged at a pension kept by
a Fraulein Joch, employee of the German Legation. General Koestring visited
Isfahan, which is reputed to be a centre of German activity. He is also known
to have contacted with the Fifth Column leaders in Tehran. He intended visiting
Afghanistan, but was dissuaded because of the lateness of the season. General
Koestring left Tehran for Moscow on the 7th January.
(v) The Nazi party is very busy organising everything and everybody, going
so far into details as to nominate a “ Verbindungsfrau zum Film " (female
liaison officer for the pictures)!
(vi) Trade relations between Iran and Germany have practically come to a
standstill. The Minister of Commerce, who has the right to grant import licences
for German goods, is refusing to do so. German commercial circles are, however,
optimistic that the present difficulties will be settled shortly and trade between
Iran and Germany will recommence on a large scale. The Sayah Commission is
said to have arranged for barter sales and purchases with 40 million reichsmarks
on each side.
The Soviet, too, are again making difficulties over transit facilities for
German goods from Iran.
(vii) Recently the Iranian military authorities tried to purchase further
arms and ammunition in Germany. It is said that they were refused, one of the
reasons being that these arms might fall into the hands of the British.
8. Italian Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 1 (current), paragraph 9 (ii). The
Italian military authorities have now cancelled the permission for the
Panamanian steamship Eureka to proceed to Assab, Eritrea, to collect the Iranian
C 1 ) Not printed.