§ 29. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement of His Highness the Aga Khan that the presence of British military forces in North-West 1360 Persia is not to the interest of either Great Britain or India; and whether he accepts this advice and will withdraw the troops from North-West Persia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have seen the statement in question. His Majesty's Government have no desire to keep troops in North-West Persia a day longer than is necessary. We have adopted no policy in Persia which would necessitate a continuance of our troops in Persia much longer, and we look forward to their withdrawal, I trust, at an early date.
§ Colonel YATEIs not the small British brigade at Kazvin the only real defence of Teheran, the capital of Persia, against the advance of the Bolshevist forces from Enzelli?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think so. I think the Persians themselves are quite capable of defending their capital.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs there still any fear of a Bolshevist invasion of Persia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPersonally, I think it is very exaggerated.