§ Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cause of the delay in occupying or taking control of Teheran by the Russian and British forces; why it was that hundreds of Germans were allowed to leave the city in fleets of motor omnibuses and motor cars specially commandeered for their use by the Iranian authorities on the approach of the Allied troops; and what has become of the Germans in question?
§ Mr. EdenAs regards the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the Prime Minister's statement yesterday. As regards the second part, I think that my hon. Friend must be under a misapprehension. Arrangements were made by the Persian Government, with the approval of the Allied authorities at Teheran, for the return to Germany of the German Minister and his staff, who were accompanied by the women and children of the German colony. The remaining Germans found in Teheran are, with the exception of certain persons exempted by the Allied authorities on the grounds of age, religion or anti-Nazi feeling, in the hands of the Allied military authorities.