Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎268v] (536/644)

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19. There were no serious incidents with British troops in Persia, though
a number of claims were made by the Persian Government for persons being
run over by lorries, &c. Much trouble occurred over the frontier and police
control of lorries operating on behalf of the miltitary authorities, especially
Persian lorries working under contract. In December, it was arranged that
British detachments should be posted on the frontier on the main roads to prevent
smuggling in such lorries, and the Persian Government g;ave instructions to
the customs and police posts to refrain from stopping lorries which carried-
certificate endorsed by the military check-posts to the effect that they were carry
ing military goods. It is hoped that this arrangement will eliminate further
difficulties.
20. Some difficulty was also caused by military purchases of commodities.
The Persians had, for instance, for years past exported potatoes and the British
military authorities were anxious to buy 10,000 tons. 1 he Persian Government,
however, procrastinated about giving the necessary permits. Most of the
quantity was bought by the military authorities and exported from Persia with
out permits, the only alternative being to use shipping to bring potatoes from
overseas. .
21. Much difficulty was also made over a request by the British military
authorities to take over, as an urgent operational necessity, in view of the
approach of the Germans to the Caucasus, certain telegraph lines between Tehran
and Baghdad, and between Malayer and Andimeshk. The request, made in
September, w 7 as based on article III (2) (b) of the I ripartite Treaty. In
November the lines were taken over by the British military authorities for the
operation of special apparatus, although the necessary permission had not been
given. Only a mild protest was made by the Persian Government.
22. Some difficulty also arose with the Russian authorities over Caleb-
murgheh aerodrome near Tehran. Although the R.A.F. had installed special
direction-finding apparatus and were building an enormous runway there, the
Russians established their troops at the aerodrome and made difficulties about
the R.A.F. personnel using their apparatus. They made it clear that they
intended to take it over entirely. After long negotiations, an agreement was
come to on the 30th June between the R.A.F. and the Soviet authorities as regards
the use of all the aerodromes in the Tehran area. It was agreed that the
Soviet Air Force would have administrative control of the Calehmurgheh
aerodrome and the Royal Air Force of the aerodromes at Doshan—Tappeh and
Mehrabad. All aerodromes were to be used by both parties. No further
difficulties arose about the R.A.F. using Calehmurgheh.
23. Special arrangements had to be made for the R.A.F. to take over
Mehrabad aerodrome, which was the last aerodrome in the Tehran area in the full
possession of the Persian Air Force. The R.A.F., who had specially close relations
wdth the Persian Air Force, arranged special facilities to assist their transfer to
Isfahan and Kerman. Mehrabad was taken over by the R.A.F. towards the end
of the year.
24. We were somewhat concerned at the entire absence of A.R.P. m
Persia. In spite of frequent representations by His Majesty’s Minister, nothing
whatever wms done to provide even the most elementary A.R.P. system in Tehran,
though in the oil area the oil company had its own A.R.P. system. The
Persian Government took the view that an attack on Tehran was unlikely in
spite of the military objectives which it contained, and that the population
would be gravely frightened by any preparations that were made. They were
encouraged in this view by the Russians, who were unwilling to admit that there
was the smallest danger of the Germans being able to bomb Tehran. A German
aeroplane dropped leaflets over Pahlevi in September and this, combined with the
serious military situation m the Caucasus, induced the I ersian Government to
make the initial preparations for establishing an A.R.P. system with the
assistance of a P.A.D. Officer from G.H.Q., Paiforce, who visited Tehran several
times in the autumn. At the end of the year arrangements were being made for
Persian officers to train in A.R.P. in Egypt and requests by the Persian Govern
ment for transport and equipment for A.R.P. purposes were under consideration.
Relations with India.
25. Relations with India were uneventful throughout the year. The
Nokkundi railway was extended to Zahidan and a supply route to Russia and
China was opened via Meshed for goods brought from India. Trade between
India and Persia was thus affected even on the land route by the over-riding need
to send the maximum possible supplies to Russia.