Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎221r] (441/807)

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After representations had been made about this gross partiality in favour
of Germany, the Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs admitted it was by the
Shah’s orders that the item of news about the sinking of rails and sugar destined
for Iran was not published. On the 16th February the full facts were published
in the press.
6. German Interests.
(i) The German Government recently offered to send to Iran expert German
hospital nurses in order to train Iranian nurses, but the offer was refused. The
German Government then invited the Iranian medical authorities to send -Iranian
doctors to Germany to study hospital organisation, &c.; this invitation has been
accepted.
(ii) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 2 (current), paragraph 9 (ii).
During the period under review Herbert Dittmann, accompanied by a
Herr Muller have arrived in Tehran as counsellor and secretary respectively of
the German Legation. Herr Dittmann was formerly a consul in Jerusalem.
Explaining his rapid promotion in the German diplomatic service, Herr Dittmann
told an American colleague that for the past two years he had been employed with
the Personnel Branch of the German Foreign Office. To the same individual he
expressed the view that the Allied concentration of troops in Syria and Egypt
was a threat to Russia and the Baku oilfields.
(iii) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 2 (current), paragraph 9 (iv). The
export of tea, coffee, soap, &c., to all foreign countries by means of the parcels
post has now been forbidden by the Imperial Iranian Government.
(iv) The number of German businessmen and others concentrated in Tabriz
is stated to be about fifty. This may be in connexion with the arrangements for
the export of Iranian goods, via Julfa, Tiflis and Batum.
(v) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 1 (current), paragraph 10 (ii)
Sixty-five German sailors remain at Bandar Shahpur with the Hansa Line ships
Each British ship entering this port is carefully photographed by the Germans.
7. British Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 19 of 1939, paragraph 3 (ii) “ Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division.
Sahib ” Sahib Singh a prominent Sikh merchant of Tehran has donated a sum
of 6,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to the British Red Cross Society.
8. Air Raid Precautions.
The Iranian press have lately published several articles on the duties of
civilians during air raids. The articles treat the subject very generallv
It is reliably stated that municipalities have been warned to include estimates
for the construction of A.R.P. shelters, &c., in their budgets for the coming year.
9. The A ero Club.
Tenders have been invited for the construction of an up-to-date aerodrome
10 kilometres west of Tehran and south of the Tehran—Kerej railway line The
site is on the whole a good one, but will necessitate the piping of two laro- e
kanats ’ and the diverting of the Kand river. ^
H. J. UNDLRWOOD, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Military A ttache.
Tehran, February 10, 1940.
Enclosure 2.
(Secret.)
Intelligence Summary No. 4 for the 'period ending February 24, 1940.
1. The Shah.
ON the morning of the 22nd February, His Imperial Majesty the Shah
accompanied by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, dined at the Officer’s
Club with general officers of the navy, army and air force, as well as the officers of
[3-122] B 2