Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎165r] (329/807)

3
There are no regular weather reports or meteorological stations or staffs in
Iran.
10. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
Within the past week the Iranian press have commenced a strong campaign
against the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, accusing them of a breach of contract
by curtailing production to the detriment of national economy. They also
insinuate that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company were responsible by underhand
means for the Amiranian Oil Company surrendering its rich concessions in East
Iran. It is suggested that unless the company increase production at once a
denunciation of the company’s contract should be made. The press campaign
continues. There is no doubt that these articles are officially inspired. For some
time past it had been known that foreign currency is most urgently required both
on account of the Egyptian marriage, increased expenditure on armaments,
railway extensions and other ambitious commercial enterprises.
It is quite true that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company have slowed down their
expansion programme. The new pipe-line from Gach Saran to Abadan which
was to have been completed in 1940 is now scheduled for 1942. On the other
hand, the company are negotiating for a site near Bandar Mashur (degree sheet
No. 10 F, square A 2), vide Intelligence Summary No. 3 (current), paragraph 5,
for a new refinery, &c. It is quite useless pointing out to the Iranians that output
has to be curtailed temporarily owing to a decrease in world demand; the boom !
caused by many countries laying in large reserves of oil against a war having ||
apparently slackened.
11. British Officers.
Lieutenant G. D. Phillips, 3rd Battalion the Baluch Regiment (Q.M.O.),
arrived in Tehran on the 4th May from India.
12. Taking of Cinematograph Pictures and Photographs, &c.
Regulations concerning the taking of cinematograph pictures and photo
graphs, painting and sketching are annexed as appendix Ilf 1 ) to this intelligence
summary. *
Tehran, May 6, 1939.
H. J. UNDERWOOD, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Military Attache.
Appendix.
Notes on the Marriage Celebrations.
(Reference: Appendix “ A ” to Intelligence Summary No. 2 of 1939.)
THE programme published in the above-quoted intelligence summary was
carried out without change. No useful comment can be made on the dinners and
soirees, except that owing to inexperience and incompetence in placing the guests
the dinners were always late. Added to which was the painfully slow service
(Iranians do not make good waiters). The result of these late starts was that
guests invited to a soiree commencing at 10 p.m. had invariably to stand about
from one and a half to one and three-quarter hours without music or entertain
ment before the dinner guests arrived.
When the Royal party entered the guest-chambers they passed in procession
between rows of guests without a word of greeting or friendly gesture, with the
possible exception of Queen Nazli and the Crown Princess Fowzieh.
On the final night of the celebrations (25th April) the Crown Prince and
Princess left the Gulistan Palace shortly after midnight and drove through the
crowded streets in a floral decorated car to the Marble Palace, the gift of the
Shah to the Royal couple. The streets were lined with the troops of the Tehran
Garrison, who had also paraded for the Royal Review that afternoon, which alone
lasted nearly eight hours.
b 2
[605 z—1]
( J ) Not printed.