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(iv) The Earl of Athlone, K.G., and Princess Alice Countess of Athlone and
suite, accompanied by Commodore Poland and staff, will travel by air from
Bagdad to Tehran via Kermanshah. Five Vickers “ Valentia machines are
being used for this purpose.
(v) An Egyptian military contingent consisting of 250 all ranks embarked at
Suez on the 29th March for Bandar Shahpur via the Red Sea.
3. Iranian Officials.
Dr. Abdul Qasim Bahraini has been appointed Director of the Public Health
Department.
4. The Iranian A rmy.
(i) In accordance with the new Iranian Conscription Law, conscripts of
Class 1298 (1919) have been called up for military service. They will commence
their training from the end of Farvardin (the 21st April).
(ii) It is reported that the Soviet Government, through their charge
d’affaires, have recently informed the Imperial Iranian Government that they
will not look with favour upon the suggested employment of a German military
mission in Iran.
(iii) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 25 of 1938, paragraph 6 (v). It is
learned from two reliable sources that the order for 200,000 rifles from Brno of
Czecho-Slovakia has been cancelled by the Iranian Government and given to the
Fabrique nationale beige.
5. Tribal Unrest.
Since the middle of February Kurdish tribes in the Sardasht area (degree
sheet No. 1 H, square B 4) have been in a disturbed state. The cause of the rising
is said to be due to the refusal of Kurdish conscripts to report for military
service, disarmament and the compulsory adoption of European clothes. Several
Iranian frontier posts have been attacked and the garrison at Sardasht
(consisting of one battalion) has been threatened. The tribes have been joined by
a number of their kinsfolk from Iraq, notably the Pizhder area.
Military operations have up till now been considerably hampered and delayed
by snow and bad weather. The General Officer Commanding 4th (Rezaieh)
Division has, however, reinforced by motor lorry the Sardasht garrison with
troops from Rezaieh and Sauj Bulagh. Additional troops have also been drafted
into the disturbed area from the 5th (Senneh) Divisional Area and Tabriz. One
punitive column is reported to have burnt the Kurdish village of Kolkerash
(degree sheet No. 1 H, square B 4), not, however, without casualties.
It is possible that numbers of Kurdish tribesmen are waiting to see whether
an initial success attends this rising before taking an active part in it.
The Iranian authorities, who are extremely reticent about the whole affair,
blame agitatois fiom Iraq for stirring up the tribes. The situation is now
reported to be well in hand.
6. Dutch Interests.
A Dutch company called the Algemeene Exploratie Maatschappii of The
Hague has been gi anted a concession to explore for minerals, excludin 0- oil and
red oxide. Two areas have been defined. The northern area is a rectangle drawn
approximately between the following place names :—
Duz Duzan : Million sheet No. 1, square D 3.
Kuraim : Million sheet No. 8, square A 3.
Nain : Million sheet No. 16, square B 4.
Khumain : Million sheet No. 9, square C 3.
The southern area is formed approximately by joining the following
places:— * o
Pashu : Million sheet No. 24, square C 3.
Kuh-i-Basud : Million sheet No. 25. square C 2.
Siri Island : Million sheet No. 18, square C 3.
Bum : Million sheet No. 17. square C 3.
this concession area includes all islands belonging to Iran within these
limits. The ownership, however, of several of these islands is under dispute
/iz., Tamb, Bumusa, &c., which may raise difficulties