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2. Reports have proved difficult to substantiate, but it now seems that there
were two affairs. The first was a beginning, mainly among students and in parti
cular among past and present members of the Technical School, until recently under
a German head, to start something in the nature of a Nazi movement in Iran. This
was reported by the Soviet Embassy to the Iranian authorities and arrests were
made.
3. Secondly, there was a conspiracy against the Shah’s life, and four army
officers from a regiment quartered in Tehran were implicated and all four executed.
Another version is that two of them escaped to Russia. Russian money is believed
in some quarters to have been connected with the plot, but as to this I am sceptical;
nor have I been able to learn the motives and intentions of the conspirators, except
to take the Shah’s life.
4. One fact that seems certain is that these alarums have given a good deal
of anxiety to the police.
( 62 )
Letter from the British Legation, Tehran, to the Foreign Office, London,
No. 247, dated the 3rd July 1937.
With reference to my despatch No. 183 of May 20th transmitting a copy of a
memorandum prepared by His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Khorramshahr on the
subject of the formation of the monopolistic Iranian Landing Company known as
the Shirkat Kashtirani Karun, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a
copy of a despatch by Captain Bazalgette reporting on the progress made during
the first two months of its existence.
2. Although the company appears to have made a good start, it is as yet early
to say whether its continued operation will prove satisfactory and in particular
whether the new agreement mentioned in paragraph 2 of Captain Bazalgette’s
despatch between the Company and the Customs will give satisfaction to the vari
ous shipping agents concerned.
Enclosure to Serial No. (62).
Letter from the British Vice-Consulate, Khorramshahr, to His Majesty’s
Consul for Khuzistan, Ahwaz, No. 9/11/879, dated the 22 nd May 1937.
I have the honour to submit the following report on the progress made by the
Shirkat Kashtirani Karun during its first two months as a monopolistic landing
company.
2. Contrary to expectation, the Shirkat is now functioning with creditable
efficiency and economy. The new agreement approved by the Central Customs
Authorities has not yet been published in Khorramshahr, but the Shirkat now
admits its liabilities and responsibilities for cargo in its charge. Foreign Shipping
Agents are satisfied with the “ boat-note ” receipts signed by the Shirkat’s repre
sentative, and so far no disputes have arisen, except for the outstanding receipt
for the S. S. ‘‘ Bandar Shahpur ” (my telegram No. 14 of 14th April 1937).
3. The success achieved by the Shirkat is largely due to the co-operation and
help instituted this month by the Director of Customs, presumably as the result
of orders from Tehran. Space has been found for cargoes where it was alleged
there was no space before. Barges are unloaded into the Customs sometimes even
the same day as the discharge of cargo from merchant ships. Such speed and
efficiency is almost unprecedented. This economy in lighterage enables barges
to carry many times their previous monthly capacity, allowing the few available
craft to cope with the cargo arriving and making a considerable saving per ton of
cargo landed. Up to date there have been no delays to merchant ships on account
of barge shortage.
4. In spite of the present success, it is too soon to say that it will be permanent.
A few months ago it was thought that the Khorramshahr Customs Compound were
already filled to capacity. Comparatively little merchandise has been cleared and
forwarded up-country, although the Manager of the Imperial Bank of Iran tells
me that his bank are doing considerable business in advances for the clearance of
goods, but some time must elapse before the accumulation of years is cleared.