Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎246r] (491/807)

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6 . German Interests.
(i) The Germans made the great mistake of allowing violent attacks on the
Shah in person to be made in their Persian broadcasts. The one thing the Shah
cannot bear is any attack on his person or his dynasty. The Tehran
press published complaints against these broadcasts, and, although they
characteristically refrained from mentioning the main ground of objection, tmry
seem to have been effective. Germany alleged that the announcer was personally
responsible, and his voice has not been heard since. This explanation, however,
has not prevented the authorities from contemplating action against the Gei mans.
A number are under orders to leave Iran, and it is believed that all contracts
concluded with German firms are being scrutinised.
(ii) Large notices are featured in the press advertising the Leipzig Autumn
Fair at the end of August. Sixty per cent, reduction in rail fares and cheap
accommodation are offered to intending travellers in the Reich territory.
7. Soviet Interests.
On the 10th July his Excellency the Soviet Ambassador invited the whole of
the Diplomatic Corps and high Iranian officials to view, at one of the local
cinemas, the Russian film “ Peter the Great." . .
Before the main film was shown, a thirty-five-minute reel depicting the 1J30
march-past of the Red army in Moscow on the 1 st May was shown. It is generallv
agreed that this was purposely exhibited to impress the Iranian officials with
Russia’s might. , , c • i
Fears of Russia have been revived by the attacks on Iran by the Soviet wireless
and press on account of passages in the new German white book (see paragraph 4).
The Iranian Government assert their loyalty to their engagements towards the
Soviet Union and their firm intention to maintain their neutrality.
8 . Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
(i) On the 2nd July a serious accident occurred at the valve station at Rahdar,
where the pipe-lines from Masjid-i-Suleiman to Abadan converge.
Two English engineers, with a party of Iranian fitters, were occupied m
drawing the pipes and reversing the valves along the whole line so that surplus
oil might be pumped back from Abadan into the wells. The two Englishmen had
opened the valves at Rahdar and had just left the valve-house, leaving the Iranian
fitters to complete the work, when an explosion occurred. The four Iranians died
of burns, while the Englishmen escaped. The fire is still burning. The cause ot
the explosion is unknown. No such accident has occurred before. Negligence is
unlikelv seeing that the engineer in charge ana head fitters were men of many
years’ experience. At the same time there is nothing to indicate that it was due
sab ^ n ^ 0 _i ran i an Oil Company are constructing the following benzine
filling stations or depots, which will be completed during 1940 (reference,
M. U Routes in Iran, Vols. I and II, 1939) :
Route.
Route V, B and C
Route XI, B
Route 102 ...
Route IX, A
Route 14 ...
Route XII, B
Town.
Dehbid-Mehmeh.
Nain.
Khunsar.
Meshed.
Nishapur.
Sabzewar.
Abbasabad.
Shahrud.
Gurgan.
Behshahr (old Ashraf).
Babulsar.
Naushahr.
Shahsavar.
Lahijan.
Kazian (Bandar Pahlavi).
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