Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎110v] (220/644)

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(b) Consular Reorganisation.
205. After a year's delay the Persian Government at last signified their
agreement to the amalgamation of the Bandar Abbas and Kerman districts and
the Meshed-Birjand-Zabul-Zahedan districts. In the case of the latter, the
question of the refusal of exequaturs to Colonel Daly and Major Pyper (see
section II (A) (4) {a)) was involved and was probably responsible for the Persian
Government’s delay in replying.
(11) Legation Property.
206. During the year discussion continued as to the terms on which His
Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom would surrender a strip of land
for street-widening purposes on the east side of the Legation. The municipality’s
plan involved the demolition of two houses, the gate house and consulate office,
and His Majesty’s Minister therefore proposed that the Legation should only
surrender a triangular strip of ground which would avoid the necessity of any
rebuilding, though it would necessitate some slight modifications in street
planning.
207. After some discussion the municipality turned this suggestion down,
and work was begun on the detailed plans and estimates for the larger scheme.
In October the latter were received from London and were communicated to the
municipality.
208. His Majesty’s Minister’s note made it plain that His Majesty’s
Government were only prepared to agree to cede the land on condition that all
the expenses were paid for in advance, and that only the estimates and plans
drawn up by His Majesty’s Office of Works were used.
209. The estimates included 414,000 rials for the sale of the land at
120 rials a square metre, 469,970 rials for rebuilding the houses and further
items for cost of supervision and rent for two members of the staff who would
have to take houses outside for some months. The total estimate was 931 970 rials
which is equivalent to about £12,500 at 75 rials to £1.
2 10 The municipality were further informed that they would be expected
to rebuild at their own expense the outer wall and street pavement and were
requested to reply by the 1st January in view of the fact that it would be
necessary to include the work in the Office of Works’ estimates if it was to be
carried out during 1935.
211. No reply had been received to this note by the end of the year.
(12) Missionaries.
r>i t ^ le y eai constant difficulties were experienced by Fathers
mission to" 377 ° f the re P 0rt for 19 ^) in then-
213. I he suspicions of the police appear to have been aroused bv their
proselytising activities and by the fact that Father Rice had once been n His
Majesty s consular service. This stamped him at once as a BritSi sp? and t
was even alleged on one occasion that he had served in the South Persia Rifles
tLv’ha7trre P a°Hsed tiaf A hey W0U ‘ d have . cont ™d to continue their work ff
tnov nad not icalised that they were receiving no support frm Mot Inn thp
* 11 h ™
n . i 14 '., 1 ! 16 final bl °w was given by Father Blencowe’s ill-health and in
theh b Order tw ,?,, pnest , s left tb e cou ntiy, after having obtained the authority of
priest° d ^ P aCe at th6 misslon was taken b y an Armenian Catholic
(13) British Subjects in Difficulties.
(a) Mr. E. C. Brewster.
215. When this gentleman, who is a senior employee of the Amrlo-Persh.n fl
Company, was crossing the Karun from Mohammerah to Abadan Island tote m
c<.