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Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎280r] (559/644)

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The record is made up of 1 file (320 folios). It was created in 6 Dec 1933-27 Mar 1947. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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5
* -A
effort to work in the closest harmony with the Soviet authorities and to give them
no cause for complaint, but unfortunately the Soviet Embassy seemed quite
incapable of acting without clear-cut instructions from Moscow, and in any case
the views of the embassy often carried little weight, when the interests of the
Soviet army or other authorities were directly concerned. At times there was a
surprising lack of frankness and candour in questions which concerned the Allied
^-to^ar eft or t in Persia, and any move on our part was invariably viewed with deep
'“vuspicion. It was only in cases where ££ Aid to Russia ” and Soviet war interests
demanded some measure of Allied collaboration that the Soviet Embassy displayed
more willingness to co-operate. (For instance, the Soviet Embassy collaborated
with us over the arrest of the Persian suspects in August, and over the variety of
air matters which arise out of the fact that Tehran is the junction point of the
British and Russian air spheres). The absence of a Soviet Ambassador for many
months of the year did not render our task any more easy, but fortunately the
victories in the Mediterranean, and later the more cordial atmosphere generated
by the Moscow and Tehran conferences, were necessarily reflected in varying
degree in the attitude of the Soviet authorities in Persia.
17. The Soviet authorities have continued to show particular interest in
Central and Southern Persia and increasing suspicion of British and American
policy. For instance, a Soviet scientific expedition toured Southern Persia at
the beginning of the year, whilst Soviet consular officers have increased their
activities, particularly at Kermanshah, in connexion wuth political, economic
and tribal conditions in various parts of Persia. The Soviet authorities have
I constantly asked for information about road and aerodrome construction by the
British army and our troop movements in Eastern Persia and have gradually
extended their military posts southwards. On the other hand they, for their
part, have refused to issue passes to British military personnel to visit places
where Russian troops are stationed, unless they are satisfied that their journey
is directly concerned with the furtherance of aid to Russia, or to agree to a
British liaison officer residing at Tabriz. This attitude of suspicion, which is
characteristic and hardly surprising in view of past history, has been much
increased by the support which we have consistently given to the American
advisers in this country. No doubt a deep-seated fear exists that the influence
of the Americans in the administration of the Government will in some way or
other react adversely on Russia, e.q., by producing some semblance of order out
i of the existing chaos. There is little doubt that the Soviet Embassy are working
| against the American advisers. Other grounds for suspicion are our alleged
support of Seyyid Zia, who returned to Persia in October. The reason for this
attitude is not entirely clear, as he has never been associated with anti-Soviet
policy; in fact, it was during his premiership that the Anglo-Persian Agreement
of 1919 was rejected. The strong campaign launched against him was presumably
based on the fact that he had lived so long in Palestine and was therefore
regarded as an instrument of British Imperialism.
18. As was to be expected, the Soviet Embassy took an exceptionally keen
interest and part in the general elections. The ground was well prepared, as
closer contact by the Persians with the Russians, their discipline and morale
and their sympathy for the lower classes had greatly affected preconceived ideas
of the Soviet system. They began to be looked upon as the champions of the
oppressed and as possible supporters of revolution against the present ruling
classes. The Tudeh or Left party was undoubtedly inspired and supported
financially and otherwise by the Soviet authorities, however much they may deny
this. Although the election results must have been rather disappointing to the
Russians, they managed to secure the return of a few Tudeh candidates in the
north, who will be more or less subservient to their views. The Tabriz elections,
when completed, will probably include more Soviet proteges. The bogy of a
large Soviet party in the Majlis has not materialised.
19. Soviet propaganda has been extremely active. Large increases in
cultural activities, films and exhibitions have been noticeable. As a counterblast
perhaps to the military hospital which we opened in Tehran for Persian typhus
patients, the Russians offered to place their military services at the disposal of
the Persian health services for preventing the spread of epidemics. In addition,
a well-equipped Russian hospital was opened in Tehran, though it does not cater
exclusively, or even mainly, for the poor. Their main weapon of propaganda,
however, has been the press, and certain organs are known to be the mouthpiece
of the Soviet Embassy, especially in their campaigns against Seyyid Zia.
20. It is in economic issues that co-operation with the Soviet Embassy has

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Content

Annual reports for Persia [Iran] produced by staff at the British Legation in Tehran. The reports were sent to the Foreign Office by HM’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. at Tehran (from 1943, Ambassador to Iran). The reports cover the following years: 1932 (ff 2-50); 1933 (ff 51-98); 1934 (ff 99-128); 1935 (ff 129-165); 1936 (ff 166-195); 1937 (ff 196-227); 1938 (ff 228-249); 1939 (ff 250-251); 1940 (ff 252-257); 1941 (ff 258-266); 1942 (ff 267-277); 1943 (ff 278-289); 1944 (ff 290-306); 1945 (ff 307-317); 1946 (ff 318-320).

The reports for 1932 to 1938 are comprehensive in nature (each containing their own table of contents), and cover: an introductory statement on affairs in Persia, with a focus on the Shah’s programme of modernisation across the country; an overview of foreign relations between Persia and other nations, including with the United Kingdom, British India, and Iraq; Persia’s involvement in international conventions and agreements, for example the League of Nations and the Slave Traffic Convention; British interests in or associated with Persia, including Bahrain and Bahrainis resident in Persia, the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Imperial Bank of Persia, and the Imperial and International Communications Company; political affairs in Persia, including court and officials, majlis, tribes and security; economic affairs in Persia (government finances and budgets, trade, industry, agriculture, opium production); communications (aviation, railways, roads); consular matters; military matters (army, navy, air force).

Reports from 1939 to 1946 are briefer in nature, Reports from 1941 onwards focusing on the Anglo-Soviet occupation of Persia, and the role of United States advisors in the Persian Government’s administration.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (320 folios)
Arrangement

The file’s reports are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. Each report for the years 1932-1938 begins with a table of contents referring to that report’s own printed pagination sequence.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 321; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The file contains one foliation anomaly, f 308A

Pagination: Each of the reports included in the file has its own printed pagination system, commencing at 1 on the first page of the report.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎280r] (559/644), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3472A, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100056661168.0x0000a0> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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