Coll 28/9 ‘Persia; Internal affairs; Shah’s tours in Persia: general situation reports’ [‎105r] (220/1038)

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^ THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S COYER*
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PERSIA.
June 15, 1936.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 4.
[E 3515/405/34]
Copy No. " ^
Mr. Butler to Mr. Eden.—(Received June 15.)
(No. 271.)
Sir, Tehran, Ma,y 28, 1936.
I HAVE the honour to enclose herein a copy of a political report on
Khuzistan during the last few years from His Majesty’s late consul at Ahwaz. In
anticipation of his departure from that post, Mr. Watkinson had just written one
invaluable despatch on economic and commercial matters, copies of which are
enclosed in my despatch No. 272 of the 28th May. He was engaged on this political
companion-piece when he received my instruction to proceed to Khorremabad to
enquire into the murder of Mr. E. A. Fear. This and his concluding duties at
Ahwaz may have affected the form of the despatch, but it is, I venture to think,
full of interesting matter.
2. The reference in paragraph 9 to a decline in the popularity of the Shah
and his Government is noteworthy, particularly in view of the economic advance
in Khuzistan indicated in the companion despatch of the 18th April. Regret
that the Shah’s unpopular dress reforms should be popularly attributed to the
instigation of His Majesty’s Government, as is suggested in paragraph 16, may
perhaps be legitimately tempered by this reflection, that the popular mind might
take things with corresponding lack of surprise and equal resignation if ever the
British were driven to exercise again some measure of their old influence in those
districts.
3. Other points of interest are the insignificance of the civilian Governor-
General as compared with the military and naval commanders, and the difficulties
that Jews are now experiencing in Khorramshahr. This can be paralleled in other
provinces, and the matter is one that is being watched by this Legation.
4. I should explain a reference in paragraph 8 to the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company. Mr. Watkihson reported in his despatch No. 6, a copy of which was
enclosed in my despatch No. 78 of the 18th February, that the company closed
their clubs throughout the day of His late Majesty’s funeral. In a private letter
he explained that this had been done as a result of some pressure on his part.
5. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Foreign Secretary to the
Government of India.
I have, &c.
NEVILE BUTLER.
Enclosure.
Consul Watkinson to Mr. Butler.
(No. 29. Confidential.) Ahwaz, May \1,
’ WITH reference to your Confidential Circular, No. 6, of the 15th February
last, asking for an appreciation of local conditions m this consular district I
have the honour to furnish a survey of d ? velc ’P I ? lents A f 193 2
administrative and political field since I arrived at t. hls P'fAA-uth West Iran
2 The n resent reeime has firmly established its power m boutn-west it an
since the departure of the Sheikh of Mohammerah ^funreft andbTtherfdw
Bakhtiari leaders, by effective military handling ; mea ’ sureg The local
introduction of various westernising reforms and ^ ince ntive to rebel, has
population naturally inclined to listlessness bable that the Central
ss.rorxt's,™™«“»**• ^ - “»■“ ” d o '
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