Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎98r] (195/807)

3
7
A
As it appears to be the company’s intention to develop the new oil areas
discovered at Gach Saran (degree sheet No. 10 J, square D 4) and Naft-i-Safid
near Haft Khel (million sheet No. 10 , square B 1 ), this increase in royalties is
likely to continue.
All moneys derived from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company sources are ear-
J^iarked for Iranian army expenditure.
(ii) The internal demand for petrol and oil has diminished considerably
recently owing to the decrease of lorry traffic. The majority of the 250 oil tankers
belonging to the company are lying idle.
8 . Refugees.
(i) Reference Intelligence Summaries Nos. 9, 10 and 15 (current), para
graphs 8 and 10 . During the period under review a further batch of 954 deported
Iranian subjects arrived in Bandar Pahlavi. This makes the total number of
deportees nearly 9,000.
(ii) Nineteen families of Turks exiled from U.S.S.R. (Bokara) have passed
through Iran on their way to Taurus.
(iii) A consular report from Meshed states that many of the recently-
deported refugees now state that had they known what was in store for them in
Iran they would have willingly adopted Russian citizenship and so at least would
have been able to retain their household effects.
9. Tribal.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 12 (current), paragraph 12. It is
confirmed that Malik Ali Shah Khan, the Narui Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , and his followers have
now been completely evacuated to Zabul (million sheet No. 30, square B 1 ).
10 . Road Traffic.
Owing to the decrease in trade and the lowness of the present fixed rates
which make it impossible for lorry owners to make a profit, there is much less
lorry traffic on the main roads throughout the country.
With the approaching junction of the Trans-Iranian Railway freights, too,
will be carried by the railroad.
11. Industry.
It is reported from consular sources that visitors who previously had been
welcomed are not now allowed to enter any factory An East India Company trading post. without the formal permission
of the Department of Industry. Cases have occurred both at Yezd and Isfahan
of visitors being refused permission. A rumour attributes this to fear of Russian
sabotage.
12. Harvest.
The present harvest is above the average and is estimated to be sufficient for
the needs of the country for two years. This will enable the Government to store
sufficient reserves of grain in the newly-constructed silos and also to export to
Germany.
13. The Iranian Press.
Recently the Iranian press have fiercely attacked the French press, especially
for an article in the Paris daily, L’Intransigeant, entitled : “ Although the Shah
said no, the exhibition was held all the same.”
The article in question refers to the recent exhibition of Persian art held
in Paris.
13. Military Publications.
Issue No. 6 of Volume II of the Piyada Nizam (Infantry Journal) contains
nothing of interest to the General Staff.
H. J. UNDERWOOD, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Military A ttache.
Gulhek, July 30, 1938.