Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎43v] (86/320)

84
" *' ' '“C-‘ '
(64)
No. 302/4/37.
Copies to F 0 No. 255 ; India No. 113 : Bushire No. 54, dated the 7th July
1937. ^
c
Dear Consulate.
Your letter No. 22/16/81 of April 25th about British Indians who take out
Iranian “ sijjils
2. To take the legal aspect first, we do not think that the mere fact of a person,
who is undoubtedly a British subject to start with, taking out an Iranian “ sijjil ”
can in any way deprive that person of British nationality unless at the same time
all the formalities prescribed by the laws in force for the renunciation of British
and the acquisition of Iranian nationality have been completed.
3. We therefore consider that Bazalgette was perfectly correct in continuing
to recognise the British nationality of such persons. In the past we have had many
instances of “ sijjils ” being forced on British subjects, e.g., the Charbar Khojaz,
and in such cases the police definitely claimed them as Iranian subjects usually,
however, on the grounds that they had been born in Iran. In the case of the
Anglo-Iranian Oil Company employees, we imagine it could generally be proved
without difficulty that they had been born in India and that there could be no ques
tion of their being Iranian subjects by birth. Once that point was gained, the
Iranian Gfovemment could scarcely argue that the mere taking out of a sijjil
constituted naturalisation as an Iranian subject.
4. From a more practical point of view, we are quite content to let the matter
remain as it is until some question of the grant of an exit visa or of conscription
brings it to a head. We do not see much harm in this mild swindle from which all
parties concerned appear to derive some benefit. At the same time we think the
Vice-Consul at Khorramshahr should be careful not to give it any encouragement
and should warn any British subjects who are contemplating taking out Iranian
“ sijjils ” fraudulently that such action may cause complications for them with
the Iranian authorities.
Yours ever,
CHANCERY.
PS, We are sending copies of this letter to His Majesty’s Principal Secre
tary of State for Foreign Affairs No. 255, to the Secretary to the Government of
India in the External Affairs Department No. 113 and to the Honourable the Poli
tical Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. No. 54.
(65)
Letter from the British Vice-Consulate, Khorramshahr, to His Majesty’s
Consul for Khozistan, Ahwaz, No. 18/12/700, dated the 22 nd April
1937.
I have the honour to forward, herewith, a list of British Indian Subjects, who
have been reported to me confidentially to have taken “ sijjils ”.
2. All these men were recruited by Messrs, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company,
Limited, in India some years ago, and worked on Indian “ Contracts ” in the first
place. When the new agreement between the Iranian Government and Messrs,
the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Limited, came into force, these men knew that they
were likely to be replaced by Iranians. In order to keep their employment they
themselves became “ Iranians ” by purchasing “sijjils” from the Abadan Police.
Several men have stated to me that they were advised to take out sijjils by senior
Europeans in the Company, in order to avoid their replacement by untrained
Iranians. Messrs, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, Ltd., have admitted to me that
this is highly probable, and I have every reason, but no proof, to believe that it
is true. So far as I can ascertain they did not comply with the Regulations govern
ing the Law of Nationality forwarded under cover of Tehran Circular No. 17 of