Coll 54/4 'British Middle East Office Development Division Quarterly Reports' [‎4r] (8/21)

the Jordan Government. During his visit he paid particular
attention to schemes which might help in the settlement
of Palestine refugees. His comments on these schemes
have already been conveyed to the Middle East Secretariat.
On his departure from Amman Sir Herbert Stewart
visited Damascus to follow up the contacts made last year.
He met the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture whom
he reports to be keen and competent. Here again he
discussed the question of the re-settlement of Palestine
refugees, especially in the Jezireh area. It is
interesting to note that the Director-General of Agriculture
has asked this office for an Arabic translation of Sir
Herbert’s report of last year. This is being supplied.
On his way back to Oairo he paid another visit
to Beirut where he discussed the country’s future agri
cultural development problems.
Soil Conservation and Forestr
Mr. V.K. Maitland returned to Tehran on April
2hth and remained with the Overseas Consultants group
■until the end of May. He worked as a Section Leader of
the group and, with Dr. Stuart of the U.S. Forestry
Service, wrote the section of the Overseas Consultants
report dealing with Forestry, Soil Conservation and
Range Management. He again travelled widely through
Persia and, as on his last visit, came across another
famine area, this time in the Moghan Steppe near the
Russian border. This was reported to Headquarters,
Overseas Consultants Incorporated, and it is hoped that
their representations will have resulted in relief
measures being taken. It is interesting to note that
while Mr. Maitland’s personal relations with the members
of the Overseas Consultants Working Party were excellent,
in an interview with His Imperial Majesty the Shah, at
which all the chief members of the team were present,
the leaders of the party in reviewing their work made
no mention at all of British co-operation. Mr. Maitland,
however, had a personal interview with the Shah, who
showed great interest in the development of forestry
and soil conservation. An unofficial request has been
made that he should return, with or without the Overseas
Consultants, for six months to help the Government in
implementing his recommendations. No official request
has yet been received and it is still hoped that the
Persian Government will agree to accept a British expert
chosen by Mr. Maitland. The improved draft for forestry
legislation, which he drew up for the Persian Government,
has now been passed by the Majlis.
Mr. Maitland had no sooner returned from his
extremely exacting journey throughout Persia and written
a full report, the date for the production of which had
unexpectedly been put forward by the Persian Government,
than he was asked by the Egyptian Government to draw up
a tentative plan of afforestation. After ten days
concentrated touring throughout northern Egypt, he was
able to produce an interim report. His report is still
being studied but it seems likely to become the plaything
of various conflicting parties in the Ministry of
Agriculture. Interest has, however, been awakened and
- - * -