Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎296v] (592/807)

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5. National Aero Club.
Reference Intelligence Summary INo. 6 (current), paragraph 3 (ii).
(i) This information has not been confirmed. Rearwin Airways (Incorpo
rated) now refuse to send mechanics to Iran, although this was in the original
eontract. The Aero Club threaten to take up the matter in the United States
courts. It appears that Rearwin Airways (Incorporated) cannot spare any
experts at the present time as they have their hands full with urgent United
States Government contracts.
(ii) The total number of twenty-five Rearwin training aircraft have now
been delivered in Tehran.
6 . Iranian State Railways.
(i) Tehran-Tabriz-Turkish frontier line construction programmes have been
seriously delayed owing to the lack of cement and blasting powder. From Tabriz
this line will be continued via Marand to Khoi and Kotur, and not via Rezaieh.
(ii) According to the press, the Tehran-Meshed line will eventually be
extended to the Afghan frontier (Herat) and a branch line constructed to Zahidan
via Zabul. The Qum-Yezd-Kerman branch will be prolonged to Charbar.
(iii) Urgent orders have recently been given for the immediate construction
of ramps at all sidings of stations on the Tehran-Tabriz line.
7. British Interests.
Little public interest and no official reactions to the entry of British troops
into Iraq are yet apparent.
The Iranian Chief of General Staff, Sarlashgar (Major-General) Zarghami,
was, however, sent secretly to Khuzistan. One of his objects may well have been
to find out about the British forces which had passed up the river, but the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs state he was sent to inspect troop dispositions in
the oil-fields area.
8 . German Interests.
(i) On learning of the arrival of British troops in Iraq, the German Military
Attache (Major von Goldern-Crespandorf) at once proceeded to Bandar Shahpur
and Khorramshahr.
(ii) German business firms here received orders from the German Legation
to forward all their mail by means of the diplomatic bag.
(iii) Messrs. Siemens (Iran) have obtained the contract for the planning of
the hydro-electric scheme and damming of the Kerej River.
9. Italian Interests.
His Excellency the Italian Minister (Signor L. Petrucci) has been visiting
the Italian ships lying at Bandar Shahpur. He also travelled via Shiraz to
Kerman, where he met the master of the motor vessel Hilda, lying off Bandar
Abbas.
10. U.S.S.R. Interests.
(i) On the 14th April the Soviet-lran frontier in Azerbaijan and the Bandar
Pahlevi-Baku route were suddenly closed for unknown reasons. At the time
there were strong rumours of Soviet troop movements towards the Western
European frontiers and manoeuvres in the Caucasus. The frontier appears to
have now been reopened for travellers in possession of diplomatic visas and
ordinary travellers are being allowed to travel that way with effect from the
1 st May. The Soviet Embassy have advanced various reasons for the closing of
the route : Overhaul of steamers, manoeuvres, and congestion on the railways
because of the flood of passengers to Moscow for the parade on the 1 st May.
This route was closed for a few days at the same time of year in 1940.
(ii) General anxiety as to Russia's intentions is again apparent among the
public. It is considered that, if Germany occupies Turkey, Russia will defend
her interests by occupying at least part of Iran.