Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎8v] (16/320)

14
anchored in the Outer Anchorage at Bushire became involved in an affray
an T-panian oooly on l>oai , cl tKo aViip aa a roaTilt of nrlirola + lyo oool^ on
returning ashore lodged a complaint against the sailor with the Iranian
police in Bushire, and the sailor was brought back to Bushire from Bandar
Shahpur the next port of call, in an Iranian naval vessel for trial in the
Bushire law Courts.
2. The point which is of general interest is that there now exists, as a
result of the German sailor’s submission to Iranian jurisdiction, a precedent
for the arrest and trial by the Iranians of a foreign subject accused of an offence
committed in a foreign merchant vessel at the Outer Anchorage, Bushire,
which is situated beyond the limits of what His Majesty’s Government re
cognize as territorial waters, i.e., three miles.
3. A similar affray need not perhaps be anticipated on a British vessel,
but cases sometimes occur of passengers, who are British subjects or protected
persons or subjects of the Arab Shaikhdoms with whom we are in special
relations, infringing the regulations which the Iranians impose on ships
anchored off Bushire, e.gr., by selling goods on board to coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. who go out to
work the cargo.
4. I should, therefore, be glad to receive instructions as to the line of action
I should take in the event of the local authorities seeking to arrest and bring
ashore from a vessel in the Outer Anchorage a person in any of the above
categories entitled to British protection accused of an offence against Iranian
law.
( 14 )
Despatch from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, to His Majesty’s
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, No. 5-E, dated the 8th
January 1937.
With reference to Mr. Butler’s despatch No. 482 E of the 24th October,
1936, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of the Annual
*Report of the Banque Agricole et Industrielle de I’lran.
2. Apart from the balance sheet, which was reported in Mr. Butler’&
despatch under reference, the report deals with the extensive participations
of the Banque in various commercial, industrial and agricultural concerns.
The information given is thus complementary to that contained in the latest
bulletin of the Banque Mellic Iran and reported in my despatch No. 3 E of
the 6th January. The mention, on page 7, of the exclusive right of dealing
in sugar and matches, as regard both importations and local production
having been granted to the Soci6te Centrale, is of interest; so far as I am aware
no other notification to this effect has been published.
3. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Department of Overseas
Trade (unnumbered), to the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India
No. 3 and to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Bagdad No. 4.
( 15 )
(Received on 30th January 1937 with Political Secretary's Letter No. 2, dated
14th January 1937.)
Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter dated 11th January 1937.
[E. 7456/405/35.]
P. Z. 272/37.
Despatch from His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, to His Majesty’s
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, No. 501, dated the 9th
November 1936.
His Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to
transmit herewith copy of despatch from Mr. Acting Consul Gault, No. 97,
dated Isfahan, the 20th October, 1936, enclosing a report on the Political
conditions in Isfahan. *
* Not printed. Kept with original.