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2‘3. It should be noticed also that the problem of Polish refugees in Persia
has assumed a different aspect in the last few months. In the past it was a matter
of putting pressure on the shipping authorities to provide transports to get the
refugees away, and it was their inability to provide enough shipping owing to
operations and other causes that has made the evacuation drag on the unconscion
able time it has. Now, however, practically all the refugees who are not in some
^/ay employed here, or are the relations of employees, have left; so under existing
conditions only one more transport—referred to above—can be filled. Those
remaining will then be either the employees of British and American civil and
military organisations, and their dependants (whom it has been decided not to
move for the time being), the various Polish staffs, and the children’s school at
Isfahan. This last can only be moved when some place overseas can be found
where it can be received in its entirety or in perhaps two halves. The view has
been generally taken that this institution is doing such good work in forming a
new generation of Poles that it would be a pity to break it up.
Anylo-Persian Public Relations.
24. The reopening of the second front in Western Europe made a profound
impression on Persian public opinion. The importance and significance of this
event was pressed home through the various propaganda channels followed by
the Public Relations Bureau and steps were taken at the same time to curb the
wave of undue optimism regarding the early cessation of hostilities which swept
the country.
25. The vernacular press continued on the whole to be friendly, and Allied
successes on the various fronts were reported favourably. In general, however,
the main preoccupation of the press centred round the internal troubles of the
country and the need for Persia to prepare plans for arguing her case at the
peace conference.
26. On the occasion of “ United Nations Day ” on the 14th June, a special
celebration was arranged at “Victory House.’' The reception, which was
attended by members of the Persian Cabinet and Government and representatives
of the Diplomatic Corps, concluded with a showing of the film “ The Gentle Sex,"
depicting the part played by girls of the A.T.S.
27. During the period under review the various activities of the Public
Relations Bureau were examined in detail with a view to deciding the lines along
which propaganda policy in Persia should be directed in the future in order to
meet the change in the war situation and the need for long-term plans for the
post-war period.
British Council Activities.
28. General. —Professor Boase, the Middle East representative of the
British Council, arrived in May and stayed a month in Persia inspecting the
Council’s work. He lectured at the Tehran University and at the institutes in
Tehran and Isfahan, and broadcasted from the Tehran State radio. It has been
decided to open a new institute in Shiraz and a director has been sent there to
make the necessary prepamtions, but an assistant will not be available till
September. 40,000 English textbooks have been ordered by the Ministry of
Education for use in the schools throughout Persia : they are on their way from
London. 30,000 text books for adults have been ordered from Cairo for sale to
the public. The broadcasting of English lessons on five evenings a week was
started in April, for which 5 ; 000 textbooks were specially written by a member
of the Council staff and printed locally : these were distributed to the shops in
Tehran and the provinces and sold immediately. The first two numbers of
“ Ahang,” a bilingual quarterly published by the Ministry of Informat ion in 7 V
Delhi with the co-operation of the Council, were received here'and all copies were
sold without delay. The Tehran Medical Association continued their regular
fortnightly clinical meetings and held a successful reception at the Tehran
Institute. There are now about 200 members of different nationalities. As the
showing of educational films to the University, schools and colleges of all kinds
had grown too large for the Council to handle with their limited staff and equip
ment, it was decided to leave all film work to the Public Relations Bureau in
Tehran until the Council can take it over themselves. At the request of the
chancellor of the university 1,500 copies of a lecture by the British Ambassador
(•n “ Dr. Johnson ” were printed in English and Persian for distribution to the
university and schools.
29. Anqlo-Persian Institutes. —The institutes in Tehran and Isfahan and
a branch in Tehran are now teaching over 1,500 adult students of both sexes and