مجموعة ٢٨ /٦٧ "بلاد فارس: تقارير سنوية، ١٩٣٢-" [و‎‎٨‎١] (٦٤٤/١٦١)

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398. In the meantime, a further interview with the prisoner had disclosed
the fact that, while he was on the whole well treated, inexcusable delays had
taken place in the delivery of letters or messages sent by him to the Legation or
his wife, while in some cases the messages had been suppressed altogether. It also
appeared that, although he knew in a general way that he was accused of
^^espionage, he had never been told of the exact charge against him.
399. The possibility of Mr. Townshend-Smith’s release was first mooted
by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs just after the exchange of Royal messages
on the 3rd June. His view was that a public trial could not fail to harm the
excellent relations then established between the two countries. At the same
time he maintained that the Persian Government had conclusive proof of
Mr. Townshend-Smith’s guilt, and could not possibly let him stay in- the country.
He therefore proposed that Mr. Townshend-Smith should be released on the
understanding that, after a sufficient interval for the disposal of his coal-mine, he
would be deported. This scheme was approved by the Shah, and His Majesty’s
Charg4 d’Affaires accepted it as the best solution in view of the fact that the
Persian Government could not be relied upon to give Mr. Townshend-Smith a
fair trial, and could in the last resort require any foreigner to leave the country
if they so desired.
400. Once Mr. Townshend-Smith was at liberty, the efforts of His Majesty’s
Charge d’Affaires were directed, first, towards securing him an adequate
interval for the settlement of his affairs, and, secondly, towards securing him
some compensation for the loss of his coal-mine. The second demand was
justified by the fact that, in the circumstances, he could obviously not find a
purchaser who would pay anything like its proper price. But the Persian
Government showed no disposition to buy the mine (which was regarded as one
of the best in Persia), being doubtless confident that they would eventually
secure it for nothing.
401. A series of short postponements were arranged, but, when the last
of them expired in August, the police showed no sign of wishing to hasten
Mr. Townshend-Smith’s departure. It subsequently transpired that he had been
summoned to the headquarters of the secret police and to the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, and told that the Shah had granted him a free pardon. The exact
reasons for this change of front were not apparent. Unfortunately, the change
did not last long, for, on the 25th November, he was again summoned by the
secret police, told that the Shah regarded him as a master spy, on the level of
Colonel Lawrence, and ordered to leave the country in a month. A further short
postponement was obtained, but at the end of the year his fate was still uncertain.
V. —Internal Affairs (Political).
(A) Court and Government.
The Shah.
402. The Shah paid several visits to the Caspian provinces, but his only
long journey was one through Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Pusht-i-Kuh in the
autumn.
403. Whether in his capital or on his travels, he showed himself more
suspicious and worse tempered than ever before. The sections on Anglo-Persian
relations and Basidu afford some indication of the ungovernable fury into which
he allowed himself to fall at any slight, real or imaginary, to his personal
position; and of the impossibility of conducting business with Ministers who
went in physical terror of their hidden master. His everyday temper was little
better. Stories had long been current that the Shah kicked his subjects freely
when they displeased him, whether they were Ministers of State or scullions, but
it was not until the spring of 1933 that the foreign community were privileged
actually to see him do so.
404. The incident occurred at the races. A Persian officer and a Turcoman
boy of about 16 were riding a close finish. During the last 150 yards the race
took on the appearance of a bout of vigorous riding-off between two determined
polo players, until finally the officer struck the Turcoman with his whip. The