Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎104v] (208/644)

the petty officer ashore for interrogation. Sir R. Hoare added that it was a pity
that the Deputy Governor did not accept the captain s invitation to discuss the
matter on board.
86. Xo further communication was received from the Ministiy for foreign
Affairs in reply to this note.
87. The second incident involved some liberty men from H.M.S. honey.
88. At the end of November a note was received from the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs stating that these men had beaten two policemen, that an officer
from the ship admitted that they were under the influence of drink, and that
the captain had refused the Deputy Governor’s request to send the men ashore
for investigation.
89. On enquiry it transpired that the men, who were not drunk, were
returning from the canteen and had accidentally broken a water-carrier s pitcher.
The men, who were set on by armed police, knocked two of these down. Stones
were then thrown at them by bystanders. The captain of H.M.S. /* owey sent an
officer to see the Deputy Governor and express his regrets.
90. These facts were brought to the notice of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, who were also informed that the senior naval officer’s staff officer had
subsequently called on the Deputy Governor and that measures had been
concerted between them whereby a repetition of such incidents should be avoided.
91. Subsequent reports made it fairly clear that the whole affair was an
organised piece of trouble on the Persian side.
92. The Persian Government did not revert again to the matter.
93. An element of comic opera was introduced into official relations in the
question of three ancient muzzle-loading guns which had been brought to Henjam
in 1928 to be used as moorings. After having been used for this purpose for
some years they were landed at Henjam. In October 1934 they were again
required as moorings, but the Deputy Governor refused to allow them to be
embarked on the ground that the export of fire-arms was forbidden.
94. All efforts to persuade officials of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that
the guns should come under the law regarding antiques, rather than the law
about weapons, failed, and in December His Majesty’s Minister left a
memorandum explaining the facts with the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs,
who stated, somewhat astonishingly, that the question was one of “ prestige,”
but promised to do his best with the Ministry of War.
95. The question had not been settled by the end of the year.
96. One further source of trouble was disclosed during the year in connexion
with the registration of the Royal Indian Marine launches and small boats used
at Henjam.
97. The question was first raised in August, when the senior naval officer
said he would be glad to discuss the matter with the Deputy Governor, who,
however, merely referred to Tehran for further instructions.' The point was
again raised in November, but it was not until a month later that the matter
became pressing, when the Deputy Governor threatened to arrest the clerk in
charge if Persian registration numbers were not given to the boats. He later
said that the boats were not to be used until numbered.
98. I he captain of H.M.S. Hidefovd reasoned with him, but the Governor
had received direct orders from Tehran and was unable to withdraw his demand.
99. His Majesty’s Minister reported the facts of the case to the Foreign
Office and asked for instructions. At the same time he spoke to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and urged that orders be sent to Henjam to allow matters to go
on as hitherto until the question could be settled between them. His Majesty’s
Minister also asked for a copy of the regulations under which the orders had
been given.
100. After a week of continual pressure on the IVlimstry for Foreign A.ffairs
it was learnt that orders had in fact been sent to Henjam, as requested, that no
further action should be taken pending discussion in Tehran.