Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎231v] (462/644)

8
to exactly what they wanted. Eventually, the question became shelved pending
the outcome of inter-departmental discussions in London on the procedure to be
followed in the case of aircraft in distress in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Meteorology.
34. In 1937 the Iranian Government had enquired whether the services of
a British meteorological expert for instructional purposes and for superintending
the establishment of meteorological posts in Gulf ports could be made available.
Every effort was made to find a suitable candidate, but things were not helped
by the difficulty which was experienced in obtaining exact information as to what
the conditions of service were to be. The correspondence continued until April
1938. Eventually it proved impossible to find a suitable candidate of the low
rank suggested by the Iranian Government, and the latter stated that they had
decided to abandon the idea of creating this post.
Meteorological Stations.
35. The Government of India agreed in 1937 to present to the Iranian
Government the instruments which had been in use at the Han jam Observatory,
closed down in 1935. These were found to be in poor condition, and the Govern
ment of India decided that they would instead present to the Iranian Government
an entirely new set of instruments, through the Iranian Consul at Bombay.
36. In the summer the Iranian authorities stated that weather reports in
code could in future only be accepted from meteorological stations in Iran,
reporting to India, provided a copy of the code used was deposited with the local
authorities and provided a form of agreement for the use of code telegrams for
this purpose was signed. The matter was taken up by His Majesty’s Legation
with the central authorities, and, after consultation with the Government of
India, one copy of the code used at instrumental observatories and one copy of
that used at non-instrumental observatories were deposited with these authorities,
who agreed to regard this course as complying with the regulations. Separate
forms of agreement were signed by the various observers.
Mail Services in the Gulf.
37. Representations were made to His Majesty’s Legation early in
February against the revised sailing schedules of the British India Steam
Navigation Company’s Gulf services—the Iranian Government desired a weekly
fast mail service between Iranian ports, calling at both Bushire and Bandar
Abbas, in place of the arrangement of a weekly slow service, reinforced by a
fortnightly fast service, which the company had introduced in 1937. The
Government of India shared His Majesty’s Legation’s view that this was a matter
entirely for negotiation between the Iranian Government and the company. No
action was accordingly taken.
Shipping Incidents.
38. An incident involving the British India Steam Navigation Company’s
steamship Bandra occurred in the inner anchorage at Bushire in March.
A complaint was lodged by the coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. engaged on unloading the ship against the
second officer, whose efforts to prevent pilfering had resulted in a scuffle. The
Iranian naval authonties ordered an investigation. The ship was, however
allowed to sail following upon an undertaking given by the agents that the
second officer would be available for an enquiry on the return voyage In due
course he was interrogated by the civil court. Subsequently, without the
permission of the public prosecutor, he rejoined his ship.' This led to an oral
communication from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The officer was removed
from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. run by his employers, and at the end of the year it looked
as if the case against him had been abandoned. 39 * * *
39. Two minor incidents involving Iranian coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. occurred on the
steamship City of Dunkirk Abadan. After a brief investigation, however the
port officer allowed the ship to proceed without further trouble. Another
incident at Abadan took place on the steamship Forreshank, whose third officer