مجموعة ٢٨ /٦٧ "بلاد فارس: تقارير سنوية، ١٩٣٢-" [و‎‎٦‎١] (٦٤٤/١٢١)

21
At the same time, the local military authorities took energetic action on the
Shah’s direct orders. In the meanwhile, however, the Lurs concerned had decided
to surrender Mr. Carroll voluntarily in return for certain.assurances regarding
their future treatment by the Persian Government, so that neither the ransom
nor the military measures proved necessary. It seems that the Lurs mistook
^ Mr. Carroll for the railway paymaster.
119. The schemes of Dr. Friedlieb for securing various trade monopolies
on behalf of the Persian-American Trading Corporation ended in smoke (see
paragraph 543), even his tobacco monopoly falling through in the summer. He
himself left for Europe in August, but returned in November.
120. Towards the end of the year the American Presbyterian Mission were
engaged in discussions with the Persian Government regarding proposals for
the closing of their mission and schools at Rezaiyeh, the recognition of the
“ university ” degrees granted by the college in Tehran, and certain subsidiary
questions, including that of the right of the mission to move its doctors from
one post to another without the prior sanction of the Persian Government. The
results of the work at Rezaiyeh, which is mainly among Assyrians, have for
some time failed to repay the money and the energy expended there, and the
mission are not sorry to close down. They expect to give some of the buildings
to the Assyrian community and to sell the rest to the Persian Government.
Rezaiyeh is the oldest existing mission in Persia.
121. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt passed through Persia in June on his
way home from the Philippines, and was received in audience by the Shah.
Mr. Hart resigned his appointment as American Minister when President
Roosevelt came into office, and eventually left Tehran in November.
Japan.
122. The commercial treaty of the 18th October, 1932, remained unratified.
123. Japanese trade with Persia continued, however, to expand, although
there were signs that Persian dealers were beginning to be dissatisfied with the
quality of Japanese goods, especially textiles. Large quantities of Persian
cotton were bought and shipped to Japan in exchange for textiles, china, &c.
Japanese trade flourished as before mainly at the expense of the Soviet Union.
124. A new Minister, Mr. Okamoto, arrived in March.
Belgium.
125. The Societe de Traction et d’Electricity de Bruxelles signed a contract
for the erection of an electric power plant for Tehran on the 13th January.
The contract was not, however, ratified, the reason being, according to the
Belgian Minister, that the allowance for profits had been cut to so fine a point as
to leave no margin for unforeseen damage. The contract was eventually put
up to tender in October, the tenders to be submitted in January 1934.
Netherlands.
126. The Royal Dutch Air Lines (K.L.M.) continued to use the Persian coast
route throughout the year. The difficulties placed in the way of this ser\ice
by the Persian authorities decreased as the year went on, but the Netherlands
Government nevertheless pursued their enquiries as to the possibility of using
the Arab coast route if need arose.
Greece.
127. No progress was made with the claim of M. Dracos Pilides. A numbei
of other cases engaged the attention of His Majesty s Legation and consulates,
mostly cases in which difficulties arose over the administration of the estates ol
deceased Greek citizens.
128. A Greek mission visited Persia in September to investigate the
possibility of relieving unemployment among Greek engineers by taking up
contracts for the construction of sections of the 1 rans-Persian Railway. I he
mission left without forming definite plans, but their investigations had disposed
them to proceed with caution.
[10152] c 3