Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎133r] (265/320)

6. Before I left His Majesty said that he hoped that my work in London
would not exclude a continued interest in Iranian affairs. He added, un
fortunately, that, supposing Iran should attain sufficient importance to be
an Ambassadorial post, I might perhaps return as Ambassador. I
endeavoured to convince His Majesty that, in the eyes of His Majesty’s
(government, tlie status of Iran was in no way inferior to that of some of
the countries where there are Ambassadorial posts, but I fear His Majesty
continues in the view that there ought to be a British Ambassador here.
7. This audience lasted about 45 minutes and the Shah was personally
most friendly. He appeared well and vigorous, but his references to Anglo-
Iranian Oil Company developments and to the status of this Legation
certainly suggested to me that he is becoming slow in adjusting his ideas
and has even now no clear idea of the possible or probable effects of the
war on Iranian economy. He did not refer to the question of Export
Credits Guarantee Department credits and, as I knew the Minister of
Finance had not seen him since His Majesty’s return to Tehran two days
ago I had decided not to raise the matter myself.
No. 158.
To
(37)
The Secretary to the Government of India in the External Affairs
Department, New Delhi.
With the compliments
of
His Majesty’s Representative.
Tehran desp. No. 371 of 25/11/39.
British Legation,
Tehran,
25th November 1939.
Enclosure to S. No. (37).
Despatch from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, to the Foreign
Office, London, No. 371 (822/2/39), dated the 25th November
1939.
I have the honour to report that His Highness Abdul Hussain Farman-
Farmayan, G.C.M.G. [Knight] Grand Cross of [the Order of] St Michael and St George (accolade). , better known by his former title of Farman Farma,
died in Tehran on the 22nd November.
2. On the death of the Farman Farma’s son, Prince Firuz, which was
reported in my despatch No. 13 of the 15th January 1938, no public
announcement whatever was allowed to appear. Prince Firuz had long
been under a cloud, and his death was allowed to transpire by way of
rumour, inevitably accompanied by hints of foul play. The acre of" the
Farman Farma (over 80), and the fact that he spent his latter °years in
free and quiet residence in Tehran, in undisturbed enjoyment of his astonish-
ing powers of procreation, have disposed of any such suggestion in his
case. Nevertheless, the fact that he was the most eminent surviving Qajar
prince (please see No. 77 in Personalities), and that he was a welfknown
public figure of an age that is now officially disparaged, caused the Presi
dent of the Majlis, Monsieur Hassan Esfandiary, who is connected with
him by marriage, to make enquiries of the Shah when it was seen that the
old man was ailing and likely to die. Evidently the answer was reassuring,
for the death and the holding of two memorial services, one in a mosque
and the other at the deceased’s residence, have been announced in the press
over Monsieur Hassan Esfandiary’s signature.
{S) 61 EAD.