Ext 5000/46(1) ‘Persian Situation: Miscellaneous Reports’ [‎405r] (811/1202)

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British Consulate
Khorraiashahr.
30th June 1946
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I have the honour to refer to ny telegra^ Ho. 134 of 30th Jusie
11- 4 and to submit herev ith a detailed report of "THe - Tntervie\v which
took pi.ice in ay office yesterday raornin.,#
2# A deputation of ten Indian artisans arrived at the Consulate
Office and said that they wished to place certain grievances before
the Consul» and that four of the deputation would act as spokesmen,
I accordingly invited the following representatives to discuss their
tfoMg Faruqi f Modh. 3ushir Butt, n
and Mohd.Azirn# The conversation was conducted in English with ^lich
they were all fully acquainted.
3. Paruqif who acted as spokesman, commenced by saying that the
Indians had many grievances against the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and
that they were unable to obtain any real satisfaction through the
many representations they had submitted to their ielfare Officer,
,u 5 hgar i^li; that Indiana who made a haoit of making complaints were
adversely reported on and often found themselves transferred to other
localities. Their grievances included such matters as the Club,
Welfare, General treatment, Accommodation, Transport, Increments, xo >d,
Medical, tj.., and they had therefore decided to form an Indian Labour
Union with the intention of placing their demands before the Company*
I attach a copy of a letter I received from Faruqi yesterday morning by i
post during the actual discussions which explains their grievances Ht
more length. I pointed out firstly that they were in a foreign
country and had no legal right to form a Union until regulations had
been issued under the lav/ governing the formation of Unions, and
secondly that it would not be in their interests to form a Union which
would.give the impression that it had a political background and was in
any way com with the Tudeh movement. I said that I had received
reports to the effect that a number of Indians had been attending the
fudeh meetings and could only conclude that they had allowed themselves
to become imbued with Communist ideas. Faruqi admitted that this was
in some measure correct and that although they had no real intention
of allying themselves with the Tudeh *>arty, many of them felt that
this was the only way to obtain redress; they had no one else to turn
to and they could not go on living under the present conditions. The,'
hotly denied that they were in any way connected with the GonfiTiunist
activities; all they were concerned about was the amelioration of Indiar
Labour conditions. I then told them that I had been informed by the
Anglo-lranian Oil iny that it was ted that the Indian
employees had certain grievances, but that they were not serious and
that in any event Indian Labour was much better off than rersian. It
vas the Company 1 ® policy, and quite rightly, to concentrate on
improving conditions for their Persian Labour in the first instance,
and then to turn their attention to general improvements for all
Labour. This would not necessarily mean that nothing would be done
o the Indians in the near future; every attempt would certainly
be lade to improve their lot: but it must be borne in mind that it
would not be possible for the Company to do everything at once, and that
it would take time to bring about any tangible results so far o.s the ,r
concerned. Jhey readily admitted tnat there was much force in
hese arguments. I then pointed out that one 01 the main concerns of
the ConsulAn ^horrwtehklr was the welfare of the Indian Community in
"2* « m Plojr and tnat this was the first occasion on which they had
th^t£ hea the tc 1Tly knowledge. How was the Consul to know
egr ere in difficulties J.f they never approached him?