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12. The A nglo-Iranian Oil Company.
, ^ nder the terms of the Cadman Agreement of 1933 the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company have to demarcate and notify the Iranian Government before the
31st December, 1938, of the exact areas over which they wish to operate the
concession of 100,000 square miles of Iranian territory granted to the company.
During the last two years thorough surveys have been carried out by the
company s geologists in the Provinces of Luristan and Pars, and also of the
coast line up to the 3-mile limit between the Shatt-el-Arab and Gwadar. The
experts, in making their reports, have pointed out the probability of their being
five or six large oil-fields lying somewhere in the region comprised by the flat
country at the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the adjacent sea. It is quite possible
that during the next ten years the company may wish to start operations in parts
of the sea bed as far distant as 12 miles from the Iranian coast, as it is now
technically possible to tap the fields under the sea through even greater depths
of water than at present, although nowhere is the depth likely to be more than
5 fathoms. Such oil-fields already exist along the Californian coast line of
America.
1 his brings up a number of complicated points, one of which is the limit of
territorial waters normally 3 miles, whereas the Iranian Government claim a
12-mile limit. Another is the acquisition by effective occupation of a claim
beyond the 3-mile limit by means of the erection of artificial construction.
1 he company’s representatives are now in Tehran discussing this problem
with the Ministry of Finance and have expressed their desire to include in their
concession the whole Iranian coast line.
13. Roads.
The main road between Tehran and Qum, which has deteriorated greatly
since the construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway, is to be completelv
remetalled and the bridges strengthened in order to cope with the increasing
motor traffic between the capital and such centres as Isfahan, Shiraz and
South-East Iran.
14. British Cemetery.
The British cemetery at Task Point is reported to be in a very neglected)
state. Many of the gravestones and wooden crosses have been thrown down.
This cemetery contains over forty graves, including those of naval ratings and
others who took part in the original surveys and actions in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
over a century ago.
15. The Press.
The Iranian press continue to publish laudatory articles on Egypt. Current
news on Egyptian affairs is also featured daily in the Journal cle Teheran.
For some time past the foreign press have escaped attack; however, this
unusual state of affairs has not lasted long, and English, French, German and
Russian newspapers have all been found wanting. It must be the first time on
record that the Berliner Tagehlatt, Le Concours medical frangais, Men Only
and Women, Boys and Men of Old Lands have found themselves bracketed
together!
H. J. UNDERWOOD, L ieu tenan t-Colonel,
Military A ttache.
Tehran, December 17, 1938.