Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎121r] (241/807)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
PERSIA.
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November 11, 1938.
CONFIDENTIAL.
^ 1938 j
Section 1.
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[E 6665/167/^4]
Mr. Seymour to
Copy No. 113
Viscount Halifax.—{Received November 11.)
(No. 352. Secret.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and, with reference to Tehran
despatch No, 337 of the 21st October, 1938, has the honour to transmit herewith
a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 23 for the period ending the 5th November,
1938, compiled by the military attache to this Legation.
Tehran, October 21, 1938.
Enclosure.
(Secret.)
Intelligence Summary No. 23 for the Period ending November 5, 1938.
1. The Shah.
(i) ON Wednesday, the 26th October, the anniversary of the Crown Prince’s
birthday, His Imperial Majesty the Shah took the unprecedented step of enter*
taining to dinner at the Imperial Palace the x\mbassadors and Ministers of the
foreign missions now in Tehran, together with their wives. After the banquet
the Charge d’Affaires, leading Cabinet Ministers and generals, and the families
of heads of missions were invited to join the party for the evening.
The Royal circle, which included Her Majesty the Queen, the Crown Prince,
Princess Shahdukht Shams-ul-Mulk Pahlevi, her husband Feridun Jam,
Princess Ashraf-ul-Mulk Pahlevi and her husband Ali Qawam, received their
guests in the Grand Salon. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign
Affairs were in attendance and presented the guests.
His Majesty is reported on all sides to have been “ the life and soul of the
party,” personally offering his guests cigarettes and so forth, and taking a delight
in showing them the various objets d'art in the rooms.
At dinner the seating arrangements were unusual. The Shah seated himself
at a long table with the Princesses on his right and left. The Queen was supported
by the Crown Prince and her eldest son-in-law. The guests were seated in order
of precedence of arrival in Iran.
The Queen, whom very few of the guests had ever seen before, remained
tongue-tied and very shy throughout the evening. The Crown Prince and the
Princesses were also somewhat embarrassed. Considering, however, the language
difficulty, and that this is the first time that such a function has ever taken place,
it is generally agreed that the reception was most successful, and that the Shah
proved himself an admirable host and enjoyed himself thoroughly.
During the evening the Shah expressed the wish that the Princesses might
see more of the younger set of the Diplomatic Corps. In spite of this it is not,
however, expected that social relations between the palace and foreign missions,
at present non-existent, will be encouraged until after the arrival of Her Royal
Highness the Princess Fowzieh of Egypt (the future Crown Princess).
The severe restrictions on social intercourse between Iranians and foreigners
are, however, not likely to be modified.
(ii) His Imperial Majesty the Shah, accompanied by the Crown Prince, left
Tehran by train on the 31st October to attend the annual Turcoman Race Meeting
at Dashte Gurgan, close to Bandar Shah. The whole of the Cabinet and most of
the Majlis Deputies are already in Bandar Shah.
[464 1—1]