Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎465v] (935/1028)

In December the Governor-General, through the Baladiyeh authorities,
began to construct a new Khayaban (avenue) 20 Zars wide, through the
town from east to west, for which a credit of 25,000 Tumans has been
promised next year. About 100 houses will have to be destroyed and work
is already well advanced. Very little compensation has so far been paid
for therhouses destroyed. r
10. Elections .—The Governor-General published the ’Han (notice) with
regard to elections to the 7th Medjliss in April and on the 16th May thirty-
six persons of whom some 25 were Socialists were invited to Government
House to elect the Anjuman-i-Nuzzar. Of the nine members elected to this
Anjuman 8 were Socialists.
The elections, which were, throughout, rigged from Tehran, dragged
on from 16th May to August 22nd whilst a struggle was fought out in
Tehran between Kazimi, who had secured the support of Taimurtache the
Minister of Court, before the latter went to Europe in May, and Dargahi,
who secured the support of Nusrat-ud-Daiileh, an enemy of Kazimi, who
acted as Minister of Court during Taimurtache’s absence.
The following were eventually elected as deputies: —
Kerman
. Dargahi ....
. Socialist.
Muyid-ulTslam
• V
Rafsinjan
. Nusret-ul-Mamalik .
• »
Sirj an .
. Mirat-us-Saltaimh
. Neutral.
Jiruft .
. Atta-ul-Mulk, Ruhi .
. Democrat.
Pam
. Dr. Malikzadeh
. Socialist.
P.irsia .
. Arbab Kaikhusrau Shahrukh
. In Tehran.
Candidates are not formerly proposed to the electors and no political meeting
are held at which candidates explain their programme. One voter in a
certain constituency informed me that he had, in perfect good faith, voted for
a candidate who was standing in another constituency. The voting is
simply managed by Government through certain local officials and much
resentment was expressed by the political minded at the whole elections,
which were a scandal throughout.
11 . Local Politics .—The three local parties in Kerman are called,
Democrats, Social Democrats and Socialists. These names however signify
nothing as scarcely any one has the slightest idea of their meaning and no
party has any clear cut programme or policy. This is probably due to the
fact that centuries of autocratic rule and corrupt Government Lave
atrophied whatever political instinct the people possessed, and the close
control kept by the present Shah over the activities of politicians inside or
outside the Medjliss effectively stifles the growth of liberal ideas amongst
the people. The activities of the political parties in Kerman are almost
entirely confined to intrigues to secure the appointment of individuals of
the party to various Government offices and, more particularly, to a seat in
the Medjliss (election to the Medjliss being virtually a Government mono
poly). With rare exceptions therefore self interest is the only political
object, and corruption and intrigue the only political method the people
know. It is for this reason perhaps that even our friends can scarcely be
induced to believe that the British diplomatic officials no longer interfere
in the details of Persian domestic affairs. They know that we did in the
past, and they find it difficult to believe that this method has been abandoned
when it could still so easily be used to obtain temporary political advantage.
Nevertheless the policy of holding aloof from such interference appears to
be bearing fruit. From several quarters, other than those traditionally
friendly with this Consulate, I have been informed that what Persia needs
to-day is real sympathy and understanding between the peoples of England
and Persia. Though it may be difficult to visualise how this could be
brought about, it does indicate that there is a growing feeling in Persia
that friendship with England is desirable and possible, and that it is no
longer necessary either to struggle against the influence of the British
power, or to submit to it with resentment tempered by personal advantage;