مجموعة ٥٩/٣٠ "الخليج الفارسي. تأسيس البحرية الفارسية، إلخ" [و‎‎٤‎٦] (٦٢٤/٩٢)

a iLclosure No. 6 in Bast Indies Letter No. 578 / S. 1.156
of 32nd August, 1933.
CONFIDEN TIAL.
From .. The Commanding Officer, H.M.S.FOWEY at Basidu.
Date .. 11th May 1933. No.0123.
•• The Senior Naval Officer Persian Gulf Division.
(thro* The Senior Officer, Persian Gulf, in
H.M.S.BIDEFORD)
Copies to:- The Commanding Officer, H.M.S.
ENTERPRISE,
The Staff Officer (I), Colombo.
Prdcis of conversation with Lieutenant Bucconi
of the Italian Navy attached to the Persian f {■
Navy - • MW \ l
Submitted.
The following is a precis of a conversation with
Lieutenant Bucconi, the senior Italian executive Officer
with the Persian Navy. The conversation took place on
board H.M.S.ENTERPRISE on the night of the dance on board
at Abadan. It was fairly late in the evening and Bucconi
was communicative, and at the end even expansive. He
seemed disgruntled with his lot and on that account his
statements, though his own genuine opinions, may be biassed
to seme extent.
2. He lives at the Anglo Persian Oil Company Rest
House at Mohammerah. Living on board is most
uncomfortable on account of the bad food, and mess
conditions generally.
There are five (?) Italian officers still with
the Persian squadron. They are all liable to be
sent to any ship where they are wanted, so naturally
go where there is any trouble.
They are much handicapped by the fact that the
Persian officers are soldiers rather than sailors,
and p<?.rticularly by the Commanding Officer,
Major Bayandor, being a soldier.
The Persian officers are not fully trained. It
is impossiole to train a Naval Officer in two years:
(this was not clear as they were in Italy far more
than two years). They are over-confident and his
heart is always in his mouth when they are handling
tneir ships. Their navigation is very rudimentary.
Although they have had the technical training their
methods are crude to a degree. He is very afraid of
them putting themselves ashore.
The/