Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎114r] (227/644)

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would join it. He was informed that in the view of His Majesty’s Government
in the United Kingdom enough pacts of this nature already existed, and that it
was felt that the project would add nothing to the Covenant of the League and
the Kellogg Pact. It nevertheless appeared possible that the Turkish Govern
ment still have hopes that the pact may be signed.
277. During the year the joint commission for the delimitation of the
Turco-Persian frontier, which had started work in 1932, at last completed
its task.
278. In May it was officially announced that the Shah would pay a State
visit to Turkey. He duly left early in June and was absent for about a month.
He travelled via Tabriz, Erzerum and Trebizond, where he embarked on the
battleship Yavuz (ex-Goeben) for Samsun, where a special train was waiting to
bring him to Angora.
279. Immense efforts were made by the Turkish Government to ensure the
success of the visit; 600 miles of road were repaired or rebuilt, houses on the
route were refitted and furnished and elaborate catering arrangements
were made.
280. On his arrival at Angora he was greeted by the Ghazi, and a round of
entertainments followed at which fulsome speeches were exchanged.
281. The Shah then proceeded to Smyrna, where he attended manoeuvres,
visited the Dardanelles and then spent a week at Constantinople. He finally left
by sea for Trebizond and returned to Persia by the same route.
282. The importance of the visit has been dealt with in section III (A) of
this report, and little more need be added here. The visit has probably done
something to strengthen the bonds between Turkey and Persia, and, quite apart
from officially inspired enthusiasm, it is fair to say that it aroused great interest
in Tehran. The Minister for Foreign Affairs informed His Majesty’s Minister
that economic questions had been discussed, and that the chief decision was to
put the Trebizond route in order, thus, it was hoped, making available a new
outlet for Persian goods independent of the U.S.S.R.
283. One minor result of the visit is of interest. On the outward journey
the Shah was accompanied by Husrev Bey, the Turkish Ambassador, but while at
Angora it was arranged that Husrev Bey should not return to Tehran, and that
his place should be taken by Enis Bey, then Turkish Minister at Athens. No
reasons were given for this sudden step, hut it is probable that Husrev Bey’s
forceful conduct as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, in which position he fought
hard in the interests of his colleagues, had embarrassed and irritated the Persian
Government. Enis Bey accompanied the Shah on his return journey.
(4) Sweden.
284. The only event of importance in Perso-Swedish relations was the visit
in November of the Crown Prince, who was accompanied by the Crown Princess,
Prince Bertil, Princess Ingrid, the Swedish Minister at Moscow,
Baron Gyllenstierna (who is also accredited to Persia), and other members of
their suite.
285. The Royal party reached Tehran from Bagdad via Kermanshah and
Hamadan, and underwent a series of formal entertainments. They visited
various factories and inspected archaeological diggings and museums in which
His Royal Highness is particularly interested.
286. His Royal Highness, leaving the rest of the party in Tehran, paid a
hurried visit to Mazanderan, after which the whole party, with the exception of
Princess Ingrid, who was ill with tonsilitis, proceeded to Isfahan and Persepolis.
They finally left the country via Isfahan, Sultanabad, Hamadan and
Kermanshah.
287. The chief characteristic of the visit was the intense formality to which
the Royal party were subjected, and the inefficiency, in spite of great effort, of
the arrangements made for them, from which they were not permitted to deviate
by a hair’s breadth. The visit served as a further example of the notorious
inferiority complex of the Shah and Persian officialdom as a whole.