Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎147r] (293/320)

streets and pretentions houses, shops or public buildings for previously con
gested “ bazaar ” quarters, and has involved a great deal of demolition as well
as of construction. The primitive un-,piped water supply would alone render
such a prodigious increase of residents unlikely. The figures have official sanc
tion, the census was elaborately carried out, and I have no positive evidence to
set against this ; but I cannot resist the impression that the remarkable com
parison with previous estimates owes something, whether by belittling the past
or by exaggerating the present or both, to the propaganda that claims the
inauguration of a golden age of prosperity for the present regime, and that
half a million was the smallest figure thought respectable for the capital of the
King of Kings.
A copy of this despatch is being sent to the Secretary to the Government
of India in the External Affairs Department, Simla.
(16)
Pcom British Legation, Tehran, No. 41, dated 27th March 1940.
Tehran despatch No. 91E of 27th March 1940, to P. O.
Enclosure to Serial No. (16).
Despatch from British Legation, Tehran, to P. 0., London, No. 91E., dated
27th March 1940.
With reference to my despatch No. 74E. of the 11th March [Serial No. (11)
in Pile No. 443-N|40] in which details of the Iranian Budget for the year 22nd
March 1940, to the 21st March 1941. were reported, I now have the honour to
transmit to Your Lordship a copy of the supplementary law to the Budget pub
lished in the “ Journal de Tehran of the 19th March. The law was ratified
by the Majliss on the 19th March.
2. Article I of the law provides for a tax payable by all vessels approaching
the sea coast and ports of^Iran. The tax is 6 dinars, in foreign exchange, per
registered ton, and the proceeds are to be used for cost and maintenance of
lighthouses and beacons.
3. Purther taxation is notified in Article VII affecting bicycles and tricycles
of adults, and in Article VIII in connexion with electric light which is replacing
the consumption of oil. There is nothing of outstanding interest in the remain
ing articles.
4. Copies of this despatch are being sent to the Department of Overseas
T rade, and to the Secretary to the Government of India in the External Affairs
Department
Sub-Enclosure to Serial No. (16).
(Eoctract from “ Le Journal de Tehran ”, 19th March 1940.)
LE PROJET DE LOI COMPLEMENTAIRE
DU BUDGET DE 1319
28&ME SEANCE PARLEMENTAIRE
Lundi 27 Esfand 1318 {18 Mars 1940)
Le Parlement entre en seance a ll h. 30 sous la presidence de S. E. Esfandiary
Lecture est donnee du proces-verbal de la seance precedente qui est adopte.
S. E. le Ministre des finances presente, en premiere lecture le projet de lo
complementaire de 1’exercice 1319 (21 mars 1940—20 mars 1941). Ce projet cst
remis a la^ commission du budget pour etude. La commission sera constituee
aujourd'hui et devra presenter son rapport a la Chambre qui se reunira demain
mardi.
Texte du projet de loi.
Au Parlement.