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Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [103r] (205/807)
The record is made up of 1 file (401 folios). It was created in 11 Feb 1937-29 Jul 1942. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
/Confidential.
PERSIA.
[E 5408/167/34J
September 16, 1938.
Section 2.
Copy No.
Mr. Seymour to Viscount Halifax.—(Received September 16.)
(No. 299. Secret.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 18 for the period ended the
27th August, compiled by the military attach^ to this legation.
Tehran, August 31. 1938.
Enclosure.
(Secret.)
Intelligence Summary No. 18 for the Period ended August 27, 1938.
1 . The Shah.
HIS Imperial Majesty the Shah, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Cabinet
Ministers, high officials, leading merchants and bankers, proceeded by special
trains to Sefid Cheshme, 68 kilom. south of Iraq (Sultanabad), for the official
inauguration of the Trans-Iranian Railway which took place on the afternoon
of Friday, the 26th August.
His Majesty the Shah and the Crown Prince themselves tightened the last
bolts and nuts; His Majesty then cut a tri-colour ribbon and declared the Trans-
Iranian open. Afterwards the “specials” left for the capital, which they
reached not without difficulty. The royal train remained at Iraq (Sultanabad)
during the night and arrived at Tehran at 17 • 00 hours on the following afternoon,
where His Majesty was received at the station by the Government, the Diplomatic
Corps and thousands of the populace.
His Majesty, on descending from his carriage, inspected a guard of honour
with band of the 1 st (Pahlavi) Regiment, dressed in full field-service order with
steel helmets. During the reading of a congratulatory address the first through
passenger train from Bandar Shahpur arrived, closely followed by the first goods
train, which was made up of oil tankers and freight wagons.
The Shah, although looking somewhat tired, greeted various members of the
Diplomatic Corps warmly and continuously acknowledged the cheering of the
crowds. He then left immediately for the royal palace.
The completion of the Trans-Iranian Railway is entirely due to the relentless
determination of the Shah.
A magnificent engineering achievement, it now remains to be seen whether its
economic value to the country will justify the enormous expenditure incurred.
It is possible that the southern section (Bandar Shahpur-Ahwaz-Tehran)
will eventually pay its way, but it is doubtful whether the northern section
(Tehran-Bandar Shah) will ever do so. The construction of a number of branch
lines is contemplated. They are as follows :—
(i) Tehraii-Tabriz—Turkish frontier.
(ii) Tehran-Semnan-Meshed.
(iii) Qum-Anarak.
(iv) Sultanabad-Isfahan.
[414 q—2] b
About this item
- Content
Copies of intelligence summaries compiled on a fortnightly basis by the Military Attaché at the British Legation in Tehran (Gilbert Douglas Pybus, Herbert John Underwood, William A K Fraser), and received by the 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. via the Foreign Office. Many of the summaries are preceded by cover sheets and 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. notes sheets, the latter frequently containing handwritten notes giving a précis of the summary’s contents. The summaries cover a broad range of information, including: the activities of the Shah of Iran, Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Crown Prince, and other members of the royal family; activities of the Iranian Government and its officials; activities, organisation and strength of the Iranian army and Iranian air force; communications and transport, including wireless radio, and civil aviation routes into and out of Iran; British interests in Iran, including oil companies, specifically the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company; foreign interests in Iran; the Iranian press, focussing specifically on its criticism of foreign press and actions; commercial activities in Iran, including mining and factory An East India Company trading post. production; tribal matters, including those in the Bahmai and Baluchistan provinces, and the Qashqai; place name changes in Iran. Proceedings prior to and during the Second World War are also covered in the summaries. These include: German activity in Iran (commercial, political, propaganda, Nazi organisation); movements of peoples; public opinion in Iran in response to events in Europe in 1940; the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in August 1941; the abdication of Reza Shah Pahlavi; public opinion in Iran in the wake of the Anglo-Soviet invasion and occupation; social unrest and anti-British feeling.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (401 folios)
- Arrangement
The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the front to the rear of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 403; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3503
- Title
- Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:113v, 115r:123v, 125r:139r, 140r:143v, 145r:148v, 150r:197r, 198v:243r, 244r:309v, 311r:348r, 349r:403v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence