Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎60v] (120/644)

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to appoint a consul in April in the person of M. Toubro, the representative of a
Danish firm engaged in installing a cement factory An East India Company trading post. near lehran his
appointment was followed by the arrival in December of M. Blechingberg, a
member of the Danish diplomatic service, as a prelude to the establishment ot
diplomatic relations whenever the Danish Minister in Moscow could find time
to visit Tehran and present his letters to the Shah.
Italy.
111. Perso-Italian relations can hardly have been cordial^ during 193d,
although no serious matters were in dispute. Count \ iola di Campalto, who
went on leave in August and did not return, persuaded the Italian Government
to treat the Persian Minister in Rome in the same way that foreign Ministers are
treated in Tehran in such matters as customs privileges, cartes d identite, &c.
At about the same time, the Persian press indulged in an outburst of indignation
against a certain Count di Bonzi, who visited the Bakhtiari country during the
summer with a party of Italian scientists and sportsmen, and later had the
temerity to suggest in the columns of several European newspapers that wolves
and bears existed in the Bakhtiari highlands, and that brigands were not
unknown in Persia. The Imperial displeasure was so great that at one moment
there was talk of all tourists being excluded from Persia in the future.
112. Some Italian officers and petty officers were still employed as technical
experts in the Persian navy, but were all discontented. Out of twenty-five
Persians who completed courses in electricity, wireless, &c., in Italy during the
year, only one passed. The rest were sent to France for fresh instruction
Rumours were once current that the Persian Government intended to order
further warships in Italy, but so far as is known they have so far only placed
orders for a floating dock, an oil barge, and two small vessels.
113. Almost alone among foreign firms, Italian firms showed eagerness to
accept contracts for the construction of sections of the Trans-Persian Railway,
and it was supposed that they would receive subsidies from their Government.
Large numbers of Italian workmen came into the country as a result, and it is
anticipated that, by the end of 1934, no less than 1,000 Italian workmen will be
employed in Persia.
France.
114. The contract of M. Godard, the Director-General of Antiquities, was
prolonged for a further three years.
115. The Air Orient (now merged in the Societe centrale pour
E Exploitation des Lignes aeriennes) continued to use the Persian coast route
throughout the year, but His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom
had under consideration the conditions on which foreign air services might
use the Arab coast route.
116. Six French officers were expected in December to arrive shortly as
instructors in the Persian army. They have been engaged on individual contracts
and are not a mission. It is understood that the Persian Government desire to
establish an “ Ecole de Guerre.”
United States.
117. The claim of the Ulen Company still throws it shadow over
Perso-American relations, and during the last month of the year the United
States Charge d’Affaires delivered a stiff note to the Persian Government
reopening the whole question. Earlier on a slightly comic incident occurred
when the Persian police sought to arrest Mr. Dubois, the company’s representa
tive, in connexion with the counter-claim which they maintain they have against
the company, only to remember afterwards that he had left Persia some months
before.
118. Mr. Carroll handed over the control of the South Persian Railway
to Swedish engineers representing the Persian Government in March, and left
the country shortly afterwards. On the 7th March he and another American
engineer were captured by Lurs in the neighbourhood of Salehabad. A ransom
of 200,000 rials was demanded and was promptly despatched by Mrs. Carroll