IOR/L/PS/12/575

This file relates to the internment and proposed transfer of civilian Axis nationals (mainly Germans and Italians but also Bulgarians, Hungarians and Romanians) who have been handed over to the British authorities in Persia [Iran].

The file features the following principal correspondents: His Majesty's Minister at Tehran (Sir Reader William Bullard); His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires to Tehran (Adrian Holman); the Secretary of State for India (Leo Amery); the Commander-in-Chief, India (Sir Archibald Wavell); the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East (Claude Auchinleck); officials of the War Office, the India Office, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, the Dominions Office, the Government of India's External Affairs and Defence Departments, and the Swiss Legation in London.

Matters covered in the correspondence include the following:

• Whether dependents of adult males should be repatriated to the same destination (except those deemed to be 'dangerous women' or young males known to be approaching military age)
• The amount of cash that internees should be permitted to take with them, and what facilities should be granted to them for the transfer of bank credits
• Reports of threats by the German Government to deport and intern a number of British subjects residing on the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, if German subjects in Iran are interned
• Arrangements for the transfer of German nationals to Australia
• Whether Italian civilians in Persia should be retained and employed by the British.

The French language material consists of short quoted extracts in correspondence from the Swiss Legation.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 2).