Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎127r] (253/644)

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476. This sum is provided to defray the cost of the Ministry of Roads and
Communications, and not to meet the cost of road construction. Road construc
tion is paid for out of the road tax receipts and the amount received from the
registration of motor vehicles.
477. In 1933-34 the receipts under these two heads amounted to 60 million
rials, of which 12 million rials were expended in grants to municipalities,
charitable institutions and public instruction and the balance of 48 million rials
was spent on road construction. Supplementary grants were also made, and no
less a sum than 72 million rials was actually spent for this purpose.
478. For the year 1934-35 the Persian Government has budgeted for a sum
of 50 million rials for road construction. Their receipts from the road tax are
estimated at the same figure, z.e., 50 million rials.
479. Most of the money has been spent in the improvement of existing roads
rather than on the construction of new routes. The more important of the roads
newly constructed are :—
(i) Shiraz-Tul-i-Khusrow.
(ii) Kermanshah-Harsin-Khorremabad.
(iii) Senneh-Merivan.
(iv) Fariman-Turbat-i-Sheikh Jam.
(v) Kerman-Firdaus (Tun).
VII. —Military Affairs.
(A) Army.
(1) General.
480. The Shah continues to take a deep interest in the fighting forces and,
virtually, to administer them. Matters of comparatively small importance are
still submitted to him for disposal. Owing, perhaps, to the incompetence of his
Ministers or, more likely, to the inevitable trend of a dictatorial Government, he
is called upon to settle more and more of the routine business of the civilian
departments, and hence finds less and less time to spend with his troops.
481. It is not thought, however, that his influence over the army or the
army’s loyalty to his person have diminished thereby. During a year of economic
depression and widespread poverty it is the army which has come off best, and
every year some thousands of time-expired conscripts return to their homes and,
seeing the destitution therein, are convinced and convince others that a roof, a
bed, clothing and a full stomach easily compensate for the irksome restrictions
of military discipline.
482. No improvement in the relations of the Persian army with foreign
military attaches can be recorded. Social intercourse with Persian officers is
still prohibited, and no invitations to foreign military attaches have been issued
for such parades and manoeuvres as have taken place.
483. From brief, and usually distant glimpses of the army, their training
seems to have improved, but there is a marked difference between the troops of
the central garrison and those located in the provinces both in equipment and
efficiency.
484. Great strides have been made in the re-equipment of the army during
the past year, and their total purchases, chiefly in the form of aeroplanes,
artillery, machine guns and mechanical transport, have not fallen far short of
£2 million.
485. Little or nothing appears to have been done to improve supply, medical
or veterinary services.
486. These shortcomings seriously hamper tactical dispositions and move
ments. The Persian army can only move after a sufficiency of civilian motor
transport has been commandeered, and its line of advance must perforce be
restricted to areas in which food supplies are obtainable.