Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎283v] (566/807)

2
(ii) It has been established that some Iranian wheat is being exported to
Russia from Caspian ports. This is not contrary to the assurance given to the
Government of India by the Iranian Consul-General in India, that the Indian
wheat which the Imperial Government wished to buy was required for internal
consumption and would not be re-exported, but it is contrary to statements made
to His Majesty’s Legation by more than one highly-placed Iranian official that
no wheat is being exported.
4. Belgian Interests.
M. Peers, a non-ferrous metal expert of the well-known Belgian Societe
Metallurgique de Hoboken, who left Belgium about two months ago, has recently
arrived in Tehran with his family to take up an appointment under the Ministry
of Mines. Appendix “ A " to this summary contains items of interest about
Belgium and (%many gleaned from M. Peer's.
5. Iraqi Interests.
(i) As the I rebizond—1 abriz route is now closed by snow, large consignments
of German machinery, arms and munitions for Iran are apparently to pass
thiough luikey and Iraq in transit, ihe first consignment of 511 tons is now
being foiwarded via Samsun—Meydan (?)—Ekbese (?)—Bagdad—Khaniquin
Further large consignments are expected. Both the Turkish and Iraqi Govern
ments are reported to have given the necessary permission, and it is said the latter
have also waived transit dues.
(n) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 2 (current), paragraph 10. A
lurther consular report states that the incidents have now been amicably settled.
The prisoners have been exchanged, and it only remains now to settle the dispute
about 1,600 heaR of sheep which it is alleged Iraqi tribesmen seized in Iranian
territory. Owing to the bad feeling and suspicion which, however, exists
between Iraqis and Iranians nowadays, the occurrence of similar incidents must
be expected.
6. Czechoslovak and Polish Interests.
(i) Czech and Polish subjects of military age, non-Jews, desirous of pro
ceeding to Palestine to join the Czech forces there, have been considerably
inconvenienced by the delay m obtaining Iraqi transit visas. It is now
authority neceSSary to refer eacJl individual’s case to Bagdad for their
(ii) The Czech community in Tehran are anxious about their future. Many
of them are employed m the Skoda concern, which is directly under German
bemfsent oiit V° od reason to believe that Germans are
ng sent out to Han to take over the management from the Czechs who are
not considered reliable. An effort will then be made to return these Czechs to the
protectorate, where they can be dealt with more easily.
Dartinilar 1 ! 6 o? 0 In rn fh ent ° f re q uire armament specialists, names and
SSiTtangt ,ieZS‘h£lil. W '" ms “ tl >'“ k™
Legation Tn 6 Iran m-T lat? “ Chancelier ” of the Czechoslovak
AfS!’ T ! to 1936 ). has given a vast amount of trouble His
Majesty s Legation have learned from two or three sources—His Maiestv’s
Government and the High Commissioner for Palestin^that Vrba is regarded
with suspicion, but it is believed that the adverse reports all came from Czechs
who at present are sitting with Vrba on on unofficial committee to advise His
Majesty s Legation as to the character and qualifications of Czechs who wish to
join the Czech forces, to go to India for munitions work, &c. M Vrba in order
to escape from the protectorate, joined the German Secret Service, and’ was sent
to Iran, whereupon he reported himself to the French Legation and continued
to work loyally under their direction until the armistice. He then offered his
services to His Majesty’s Legation at the instance of the French Military Attache
and in response to a broadcast of Dr. Benes. M. Vrba has since then worked
hard and loyally, without remuneration, and in his spare time from his business
(Irano-Gzech Company), as an unofficial go-between for the Czechs and His
Majesty s Legation in connexion with passports, enlistment, &c. He has never
been used as an informer. His Majesty’s Legation, in their dealings with Vrba,