Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎210v] (420/807)

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5. United States Interests.
It is stated that the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey are negotiating for
the oil-prospecting rights in the areas previously explored by the Amiranian
Company.
6. German Interests.
(i) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 25 (current), paragraph 4 (ii).
Approximately 100 sailors employed by the Hansa Line have passed through
Tehran en route to Germany via IJ.S.S.R. About seventy-five remain in Bandar
Shahpur.
(ii) German nationals have been forbidden by the police to remain ip the
Province of Khuzistan (Anglo-Iranian Oil Company’s area).
(iii) Two Russian steamers have recently arrived at Bandar Pahlevi carrying
5,000 bales of cotton goods and 300 tons of cotton and woollen piece-goods. These
are the first important arrivals of goods from Germany via Varna and Batoum.
(iv) A letter addressed in error to the Ahwaz branch of the Imperial Bank
of Iran by Messrs. Sorger and Timmermann of Bremen states that they are
desirous of purchasing urgently quantities of fats, butter, oil seeds, rice, wax,
peas, lentils, haricots, jute, spices, tea, dried fruits, &c., and suggest that such
goods be railed to Batoum for shipment or railed to Leningrad. They, however,
request Persian dealers to arrange themselves for the necessary transit permits
with the Soviet authorities.
7. U.S.S.R. Interests.
Troops of Soviet Azerbaijan origin serving on the Azerbaijan-Iran frontier
have been replaced by Soviet troops from elsewhere in Russia.
8. The Iranian Army.
(i) In accordance with article 5 of the Iranian Conscription Law, all persons
born during the years 1299 (1920-21), as well as persons previously exempted,
have been ordered to report for military service on the 7th March, 1940.
(ii) Conscripts of the Tehran garrison, who will complete their two years’
compulsory service in March 1940, are now carrying out field training.
(iii) The General Officers Commanding the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions,
together with the Minister of War and Chief of the General Staff, attended
conferences at the Imperial Palace, Tehran, on the 20th. 21st and 22nd December.
(iv) The Iranian General Staff have prepared a mobilisation scheme by
which ten classes could be called up within three to four days.
(y) The Fabrique Nationale beige have been asked for quotations for the
following war materials :—
S.A.A. : 20 million rounds.
Browning machine guns : 200 (later to be increased to J.OOO).
9. Broadcasting.
\ he Iranian Government have now made it clear that, in view of the growing
number of broadcasts in the Persian language, there is no objection, from their
point of view, to the B.B.C. broadcasting in Persian.
10. Census.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 23 (current), paragraph 14. All
buildings in Tehran and environs have been renumbered in preparation for the
coming census.
11. Enemy Propaganda.
(i) Enemy oral propaganda has been active in stirring up trouble between
Iraq and I rap. Reports have been circulated in Bagdad alleging that it was the
intention of the Iranian Government to attack Iraq and that troops are being
concentrated for this purpose. It was further stated that public demonstrations
had been made against the Iraqi Legation in Tehran, and that Iraqi nationals in
Iran had been arrested. These statements are entirely without foundation. The
Iranian Government is taking active steps to tr-ace those responsible and very