Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎106v] (212/320)

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4. The proposed network of new railways would probably cost between
£30 and £40 million, and it is highly probable that the negotiations for
their construction have broken down over the question of finance. In any
case, it is unlikely that the work, except in the sections presenting little
or no difficulty, will be entrusted to local contractors, since Mr. Saxild
stated recently that the survey undertaken by Iranian engineers was useless
and would have to be done again by competent surveyors.
5. A copy of this despatch is being sent to the Department of Overseas
Trade.
( 6 )
[Enclosure in weekly letter No. 5, dated 2nd February 1939, from Secretary,
Political and Secret Department, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .]
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter, dated the 25th January 1939.
Despatch from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, to the Foreign Office,
London, No. 383, dated the 2nd December 1938.
I have the honour to report that I was received to-day by His Imperial
Majesty the Shah in order that I might hand to him personally the gift of a
silver and enamel casket presented by The King. The Shah asked me to
convey to His Majesty his most sincere thanks for this gift, and to assure
him of the great pleasure with which he accepted this token of friendship
from a ruler for whom he felt the greatest esteem.
2. After the presentation had been made the Shah kept me for some
twenty minutes in further conversation. He referred first to the situation
in Europe, and expressed the view that there was hope of a general improve
ment. He attached much importance to the success of the French Govern
ment in dealing with the general strike of the 30th November, and thought
that this development was of good augury for the future. (His Imperial
Majesty is always inclined to take a pessimistic view of the prospect of
revolutionary elements gaining power in France.) He believed that there
was now a chance for those leaders who were working for peace to get the
upper hand of the elements working for disorder and war.
3. Turning to the events of last September, the Shah said that he
would like the Prime Minister to know how cordially he had agreed with
the policy which Mr. Chamberlain had then followed, a policy which was
based upon the real interests of the British Empire and which had also
brought benefits to the world. He said he wished His Majesty’s Govern
ment to know also that they need have no anxiety about the policy of Iran;
this policy was one of peace and of respect for the rights of other countries
on a basis of equality and reciprocity. I thanked His Imperial Majesty
for this message, and said that, in defining the policy of Iran, he had, I
thought, accurately described that of His Majesty’s Government in the
L T nited Kingdom. Peace and the possibility of development which went
with peace were the desire of both countries.
4. The Shah then referred to events in Turkey. He said that he had
made the acquaintance of General Inbnu during his visit to that country
and had been much impressed with his character and capacity. He felt
sure that under his presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. the policy of the Turkish Government would
remain unchanged. In reply to an enquiry from me he said that he did
not think that the change in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the drop
ping of Dr. Riistii Aras foreshadowed any modification of Turkish foreign
policy. " °
5. I was struck during this conversation with the very cordial references
made by the Shah to the Prime Minister personally and to the policy of His
Majesty’s Government. In his remarks on Anglo-Iranian relations
reported above, he laid stress on the necessity of reciprocity Whether