I don't think the tyres message was coded team orders - Alonso would have caught anyway, whether it was now or in 5 laps time didn't really matter - there is nothing to be gained making Massa slow down and become vulnerable to Perez just to get Alonso past a few laps sooner.
edit - pick up the pace now...
Well maybe they genuinely are stupid enough to deliberately slow him down, just to get Alonso past a couple of laps earlier.