Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎83r] (165/807)

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9. Tribal.
The troops of the Kerman Independent Composite Brigade who took part in
the recent punitive expedition against the Bashakird have now returned from
Bandar Abbas area to Sirjan. Field and mountain artillery attached for duty
^with the Bashakird column returned to Kerman.
10. Civil A viation.
Landing Grounds. —Reference Intelligence Summary No. 2 (current), para
graph 10 (ii). Work on the Kermanshah military landing ground has been
completed and it is now fit for use all the year round. There are no ground staff
or personnel and as yet no sheds or hangars have been erected for accommodating
aircraft. It is not lighted at night, but it would be possible to make an emergency
landing as the position of the landing ground could be located by aircraft, as it
is situated approximately 2^ miles due south of the Kermanshah Petroleum
Company’s refinery, which is always brilliantly lighted throughout the night
A plan of the landing ground is given as Appendix ££ A ’’Q to this summary.
11. Buildings.
(i) It is reported that Messrs. Balloca, an Italian firm, have secured a contract
for the construction of seven grain silos, each of 16,000 tons capacity.
(ii) A factory An East India Company trading post. for the manufacture of optical glasses and instruments is being
constructed in Tehran. Foreign specialists have been engaged and the machinery
is already being installed.
(iii) It is reported from a reliable source that the Iranian Government intend
constructing a new and up-to-date general hospital south of Tehran (in the
vicinity of the railway station) of 500 beds. The cost is estimated to be more
than 8 million tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (£1 million).
Swiss architects are at present engaged in drawing up the plans.
12. Treaties.
Subject to ratification, a treaty of friendship has been signed at Buenos Aires
between the representatives of Iran and the United States of Mexico
13. British Interests.
The Indo-European Telegraph Department wireless station at Lingah, which
ceased functioning in 1931, has now been formally handed over to the Iranian
Government.
14. The Iranian A ir Force.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 10 of 1936, paragraph 3 (iii). Colonel
Bevir, Belgian adviser to the Iranian air force, left Tehran during the period
under review on expiration of his contract. It is said that he will not be replaced.
15. Baluchistan Frontier — Iranian Survey.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 10 (current), paragraph 7. It is
reported that the Iranian survey party, fearing attack by local tribes, have
abandoned work at Gorani and have withdrawn to Zabul.
16. The Press.
Several articles have appeared in the Iranian press during the period under
review expressing concern for the receding of the water in the Caspian Sea and
possibly preparing the public for the news of the total loss of one or two of the
new and expensive harbours which have been constructed.
The reasons given for the rapid recedence of water are (a) earth tremors in
the bed of the sea, and (b) that many of the streams of Gilan, Mazanderan and
Gurgan are now being utilised for irrigation purposes, as is also the Volga River
in Russia.
If the Caspian Sea continues to recede at its present rate, which is stated to
be about 30 cm. per annum, the whole of the Gulf of Gurgan (Astarabad Bay)
may become dried up within a period of fifteen-twenty years, thus preventing the
use of the ports of Bandar-i-Gaz (degree sheet 15h, square Id) and Bandar Shah
(!) Not reproduced.