Open & Shut

This week the most belligerently neutral country of Asia was neutral no longer. For 15 years Iran's Reza Shah Pahlavi had successfully played off British, Russian and other European interests against each other, but now Britain and Russia were working together. Into Iran from Iraq in the west marched a British column. More British troops landed at Bandar Shahpur, southern terminus of the Trans-Iranian Railway. To the north Red Army troops began their long trek through the mountains into Iran from Russian Armenia. In India's northwest province of Baluchis tan other British forces stood ready to attack from the east. Directing Britain's whole effort was General Sir Archibald Wavell.

For months the British have watched with alarm a steady flow of Germans into Iran (TiME, Aug. 11). Some were "specialists" supposed to be working for Iran's new Trans-Iranian Railway, in factories and public works. Some were "archeologists" filled with a wide-eyed interest in ancient Persia. Some wore only the moth-eaten disguise of tourists. According to British calculation, Iran had a tight little nucle us of 3,000 Nazis by the middle of August.

Even without German infiltration, Iran had a poor chance of keeping her neutrality. The most strategic cross-corridor of Asia, Iran's mountains and deserts not only lie across the land route from Asia Minor to India but are the shortest road by which Britain could send supplies and men to the Russian Army -- a road that has become vital since Hitler reached Russia's Black Sea ports.

Equally vital to the Royal Navy are Iran's oil wells and the refineries close to the Persian Gulf. Much of the 78,600,000 barrels of petroleum that they produce each year has been earmarked for the tanks of Britain's ships and planes. But reportedly since May not a barrel of oil has left the country.

Fortnight ago in Teheran Britain's Minister Sir Reader William Bullard, Soviet Ambassador M. A. Smirnov handed the Iranian Foreign Office a stiff note signed by both their Governments. Its substance : Iran must get rid of its overplus of Germans or else.

Hastily Reza Shah Pahlavi called up Iran's reserves, bringing the strength of his efficient little Army up to about 200,000. Vainly he attempted a last-ditch compromise, swore there were fewer than 600 Germans in Iran, indicated he might send them away little by little. But when the British moved, he counter-moved. His Premier Ali Mansur told his Parliament: "We have taken all necessary measures to face this attack."

For the British and Russians, the case of Iran was open & shut, like the cases of Iraq and Syria. At all costs the way to India must be shut, Iran's oil fields and the road to Russia kept open. This week, with armies, they began making sure.

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