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Coll 28/9 ‘Persia; Internal affairs; Shah’s tours in Persia: general situation reports’ [‎21r] (52/1038)

The record is made up of 1 volume (514 folios). It was created in 17 Feb 1931-27 Apr 1938. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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[15 bb—4]
B
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OJ£ HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT

PERSIA.
L i & i)
May 25, 1937.
CONFIDENTIAL.
\0'6/ J
Section 1.
[E 2835/904/34] Copy No. |
Mr. Seymour to Mr. Eden.—(Received May 25.)
(No. 174.)
Sir, Tehran, May 8, 1937.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies of two interesting despatches
which I have received from His Majesty’s consuls at Ahwaz and Shiraz describing
the recent visit of His Imperial Majesty the Shah to these two towns.
2. The contrast between the interest displayed by His Imperial Majesty in
the activities and welfare of the people of Khuzistan and his comparative
indifference towards the people of Shiraz seems to bear out Mr. Watkinson’s view
that his neglect of the latter was deliberate.
3. It is perhaps of interest to note that throughout the tour the Crown
Prince appears to have been kept to some extent in the background, though it is
true that in Khuzistan His Imperial Majesty was evidently at some pains to
familiarise him with various points concerning the administration of the empire.
4. One further point of interest to which I would draw your attention is the
continued high esteem in which General Muiny appears to be held by the Shah.
General Muiny was mentioned in the second paragraph of Mr. Butler’s despatch
No. 468 of the 12th October last, and further particulars concerning him were
given in the Iranian personalities recently forwarded from this Legation (see
my despatch No. 112 of the 26th March, 1937). There can be little doubt that he
is at the present moment one of the outstanding military commanders in the
country.
5. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s consuls at Ahwaz
(No. 25) and Shiraz (No. 11) respectively.
I have, &c.
H. J. SEYMOUR.
Enclosure 1.
Consul Gardener to Mr. Seymour.
(No. 32.)
Sir, Ahwaz, March 25, 1937.
I HAVE the honour to append a statement showing the itinerary of His
Imperial Majesty the Shah during his recent visit to Khuzistan, together with
a list of his suite.Q As the Shah’s visit to this province was in the main a visit
of inspection, it would, I think, be more convenient to report his views on each
Government department, institution or individual.
General.
His Imperial Majesty appeared throughout to be in an unusually good mood,
and showed very few signs of irritation. He appeared on arrival to be in good
health and happy to be in Khuzistan. After his return from Khorramshahr and
Bandar Shahpur he seemed tired, though he continued to be in a good temper.
Throughout he drew the attention of the Crown Prince to every point of
interest and discussed matters with him. Part of his mission was undoubtedly to
familiarise his son with his future empire.
As regards the people of the province, I could discover no signs of any real
enthusiasm roused by the Shah’s presence. Neither, on the other hand, could one
detect any hostility to the Shah. The crowds which congregated to see him were
of moderate dimensions, neither large nor small. Many people took advantage of
his presence (as related below) to present petitions.
( 1 ) Not printed.

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Content

Correspondence and reports submitted by British officials in Persia [Iran], along with newspaper cuttings collected from the British and Persian press, relating to the Shah of Persia, Reza Shah Pahlavi. Subjects covered include:

  • The Shah’s tours and visits around Persia, including to the towns and cities of Sistan [Zabol], Bushire, Shiraz, Meshed [Mashhad], Kermanshah, Tabriz, Ahwaz [Ahvāz].
  • Reports of economic and political conditions in Persia.
  • The first Minister of the Persia Court, Teymourtache [Abdolhossein Teymūrtāsh], including his dismissal by the Shah in 1933, and his subsequent trial, imprisonment and death.
  • Speculation over the health of the Shah.
  • Treatment of the Bakhtiari tribes by the Shah and his Government.
  • The Shah’s programme of modernisation in Persia, including the enforcement of European hats for men and unveiling of women, military reforms, and schemes for urban development.
  • A rebellion and massacre at the Goharshad shrine in Meshed in July 1935, provoked by a backlash against the Shah’s modernising tendencies. Papers include a secret report written by the British Consul-General for Khorasan and Sistan, Major Clive Kirkpatrick Daly (ff 218-222).

Principal correspondents in the file include: the British Legation at Tehran (Reginald Hervey Hoare; Hughe Montgomery Knatchbull-Hugessen; Nevile Montagu Butler); the Chargé d’Affaires at Tehran (Victor Alexander Louis Mallet); the British Consul-General for Khorasan and Sistan (Daly).

Newspaper cuttings from the Persian press are written in French.

Extent and format
1 volume (514 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 510; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The front and back covers, along with the two leading and two ending flyleaves have not been foliated. A previous foliation sequence, which is present in parallel between ff 222-510 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 28/9 ‘Persia; Internal affairs; Shah’s tours in Persia: general situation reports’ [‎21r] (52/1038), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3404, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056316195.0x000035> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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