“In the course of a few years the volume of trade with Iran was multiplied five-fold, and in 1939 Iran’s trade turnover with Germany had attained first place. Even Soviet Russia, the competitor who had been biggest and most dreaded previously, had been eliminated from the running. Concurrently with activation of commercial relations, the Bureau had also intensified cultural relations and had, in conjunction with growing commercial influence and in closest collaboration with the Iranian Government, created a series of cultural institutions headed and directed by Germans.” (007-PS)
Rosenberg further reports on APA activities in other parts of the world:
“Afghanistan’s neutral position today is largely due to the Bureau’s activity.”
* * * * * *
“The Arab question, too, became part of the work of the Bureau. In spite of England’s tutelage of Iraq the Bureau established a series of connections to a number of leading personalities of the Arab world, smoothing the way for strong bonds to Germany. In this connection, the growing influence of the Reich in Iran and Afghanistan did not fail to have repercussions in Arabia.” (007-PS)
In view of the numerous “personal connections” maintained by the Bureau in many different countries, it is not difficult to surmise what Rosenberg meant when he stated at the conclusion of his report:
“The Bureau has carried out the initiating of all politically feasible projects. With the outbreak of war it [the APA] was entitled to consider its task as terminated. The exploitation of the many personal connections in many lands can be resumed under a different guise.
“(Signed) Rosenberg” (007-PS)
(3) Activities in Rumania. Annex Two of the report deals with activities in Rumania. Here the APA’s intrigue was more insidious, its interference in the internal affairs of a foreign nation more pronounced. After describing the failure of what Rosenberg terms a “basically sound anti-Semitic tendency”, due to dynastic squabbles and party fights, Rosenberg describes the APA’s influence in the unification of conflicting elements:
“What was lacking was the guiding leadership of a political personality. After manifold groping trials the Bureau believed to have found such a personality—the former Minister and poet, Octavian Goga. It was not difficult to convince this poet, pervaded by instinctive inspiration, that a Greater Rumania, though it had to be created in opposition to Vienna, could be maintained only together with Berlin. Nor was it difficult to create in him the desire to link the fate of Rumania with the future of the National-Socialist German Reich in good time. By bringing continuing influence to bear, the Bureau succeeded in inducing Octavian Goga as well as Professor Cuza to amalgamate the parties under their leadership on an Anti-Semitic basis. Thus they could carry on with united strength the struggle for Rumania’s renascence internally, and her Anschluss with Germany externally. Through the Bureau’s initiative both parties, which had heretofore been known by distinct names, were merged as the National-Christian Party, under Goga’s leadership and with Cuza as Honorary President.” (007-PS, Annex II)