Coll 29/104 'Appointment of an Indian to the Tehran Legation (First Secretary or Trade Commissioner)' [‎101v] (202/243)

Government of India would consider the position and inform me by
telegram as soon as possible of any suggestions which they wisn
to make for the furtherance of the policy indicated in paragraph
2 above* In particular
(a) what are the possibilities of the increased consumption in
India of any Iranian or Iraqi products, such as raw cotton,
leather and gum tragacanth? In this connection, I have already
consulted you regarding. Iraqi unpaciied dates in my telegram do.
7173 of 14th November to the Commerce Department.
(b) what can be done to increase the export to Iran and Iraq of
Indian goods such as cement, rail, ay waggons and cotton piecegoods?
5 . It will be essential for the United Kingdom Commercial
Cor oration to maintain close contact with the Indian market for
Iranian and Iraqi products and with Indian suppliers. At present,
as an interim measure, this contact will be maintained at my request
through the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Government of India, but some more
direct channel seems desirable, particularly for the disposal of
small Questions. In the circumstances the Corporation are
considering’ the advisability of appointing a representative in
India and I assume that you would welcome such an appointment
which would seem likely to facilitate the Corporation’s activities
not only in respect of Iran and Iraq but in respect of other
territories also in which they operate*
6 * It is'possible that the appointment of an Int iar_ trade
agent at Tehran would assist the Corporation’s endeavours while
fostering Indian trade, but the Corporation wish to nave a few
month!’ experience of the handling of the responsibility entrusted
to them before forming an opinion of che desirability of such an
appointment from their point of view, and until they have had
this experience I would prefer to reserve my o.vn judgment on the
suggestion. An alternative suggestion for the appointment of
a political officer to the Staff of the Legation, which was made
demi-official by your foreign Secretary in September, is still
under consideration here, but even if it should be agreed and
acted u on, I am not sure th t it would not be advisable to consider
the appointment of an official who could devote himself solely
to the duties of a Trade Agent. I should welcome your viewrs.
If the Government of India should in principle be willing to appoint
a trade agent I would cohsult other Departments of Die Majesty’s
Government and the United kingdom Commercial Corporation on the
proxjosal •
(Sgd.) W. D. CROFT
Thes is’. ue ! of the above has been duly authorised.