Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎145v] (290/320)

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Enclosure to Serial No. (14).
From British Consulate, Shiraz, to British Legation, Tehran, No. 8 (53|5i2|G),
dated the 24th January 1940.
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a brief summary of events ^
and conditions in the Shiraz Consular District during 1939, which is prepared
annually at the request of the Hon’ble the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
2. The material for the summary is taken for the greater part from the
monthly diaries of this Consulate and from other reports submitted by me in
the course of the year.
Sub-enclosure to Serial No. (14).
Summary of Events and Conditions in the Shiraz Consular District during
THE YEAR 1939.
General SifuaGon .—Life in this district pursued an even tenour in 1939.
No disturbances or agitations occurred and no reforms or developments were
embarked upon. Even the outbreak of war in Europe produced, in this general
inactivity, peculiarly little effect. It is true that the steady rise in the cost of
living was aiven further impetus, the boycott of foreigners and in particular of
this Consulate was intensified and the remnant of the export trade finally dis
located but no fresh evils came into being and anxiety over the future problem
of obtaining supplies from abroad was only one of a few small clouds on the
horizon.
Local Administration. —Ears, now designated 'the 7th Ustan, was deprived
of an able and honest administrator by the death in December of Abul Hassan
Pirnia. He was appointed Governor-General (Ustandar) only in January and
in view of the constant going and coming of minor officials it is doubly unfortu
nate that this province should not have enjoyed for longer his beneficent rule.
L r p to the end of the year no one had been nominated to succeed him and in the
absence of a Governor (Farmandar) the practical direction of affairs fell more
than ever into the hands of the military authorities and the General Officer com
manding the Ears division became the virtual LTstandar.
Military intervention in civil affairs led to no increase of local initiative y
for the army is obsessed even more than the civil administration with dread of
the Shah’s displeasure and action, at any rate of a beneficial kind, was paralysed
by the pernicious precaution of always referring to Tehran before taking the
pettiest decision.
Communications .—No work was undertaken of any major importance. The
Shiraz-Eiruzabad road progressed no further than Firuzabad and the Kazerun-
Basht-Behbehan road is not yet open to traffic. The military road from Shiraz
to Behbehan via Ardakan is closed to civilians after Tul-i-Khosrovi.
In the spring the Shiraz-Isfahan road was put in good condition for the
benefit of the foreign delegations visiting Iran for the Crown Prince’s wedding
but little has been done to it since and the surface, especially between Shiraz
and Persepolis, is rapidly deteriorating.
Petrol pumps and oil depots were installed by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Com
pany at convenient intervals throughout the whole length of the road from
Bushire to Tehran.
Aancvlt'ure .—As a result of the plentiful winter rainfall grain crops were
excellent. Fruit suffered from late frosts in April. Sugar beet in nearly all
parts of the district was attacked by caterpillars and only a poor crop was
obtained. The cotton prop was good but much distress was caused by the Shah’s
prohibition of the cultivation of rice, for the waterlogged lands suitable for rice
can rarely be put to an alternative use.
Trade .—The export trade in the produce of Ears such as gum tragacanth,
redgum insoluble, lamskins, almonds, seeds and licorice roots, struggled feebly
in the toils of innumerable governmental restrictions until the war gave it the
death blow. Shipments to Germany in the first half of the year were affected
under the clearing agreement and to Italy under private barter arrangements.
The suggestion of German importers that gum and licorice should be shipped