* The use of ‘amnesty’ was allegedly an error since the word normally suggests some previous wrongdoing on the part of the person being amnestied. According to Retinger, the word should have been ‘release’ but was accidentally replaced by ‘amnesty’ by the Polish diplomat Mr Potulicki who drafted the document.

* On 25 August 1941, Iran was split into two zones of occupation: the British in the oil-rich south and the Soviets in the north. This was forced on the Iranian government and the Shah, Reza Pahlevi, abdicated in favour of his son.

* In April 1941, the pro-German former Iraqi prime minister Rashid Ali al-Galiani had attempted a coup and the British had occupied the country.