Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎117v] (234/807)

6 . United States Interests.
Mr. Wallace Murray, head of the Near East Bureau of the State Department
at Washington, recently visited Iran during a tour of the Near East countries.
He was Charge d’Affaires in Tehran from 1922-25 and held office at the time
Mr. Imrie, American Vice-Consul, was murdered by a fanatical mob. Mr. Murj^i^
was mainly instrumental in obtaining an apology and a large sum for comp^^^
sation from the Iranian Government.
During his stay in Tehran Mr. Murray was granted an audience by His
Majesty the Shah and took the opportunity to deliver a personal message
of greetings from President Roosevelt to the Shah.
Before leaving Iran Mr. Murray gave an interview to Iranian press repre
sentatives and through them congratulated Iran on the recent progress achieved.
He also paid a tribute to the great work of the Shah and referred to the cordial
relations now existing between the United States and Iran.
It may be recalled, however, that Iran has had no diplomatic representative
at Washington since the withdrawal of the Iranian Minister in November 1935,
who was arrested on a charge of exceeding the speed limit. It is considered now
possible that the Shah will in the near future reappoint a representative in the
United States.
7. Iranian A ir Force.
(i) Construction work on the aerodrome at Tabriz is in progress. Two large
hangars have been completed and two others await roofing material. Barracks
and office buildings have been erected behind the hangars to accommodate the
air force personnel.
(ii) It is reported that the airport at Bushire is being considerably enlarged.
Two square kilometres of land is now being levelled.
(iii) The first consignment of Hawker “ Hind ” machines (eighteen) for the
Iranian air force were despatched by sea from England on the 23rd September.
The remaining seventeen will be despatched by the next available steamer towards
the end of this month. They are to be assembled in Ahwaz and flown to Tehran.
8 . The Iranian A rmy.
(i) New barracks are being constructed for the 4th Eastern (Azerbaijan)
Division on the southern outskirts of the town. They should be completed within
the next two months.
(ii) A consular report states that one anti-aircraft battery of four guns is
now located at Tabriz and one at Rezaieh.
(iii) Two battalions of the 3rd (Bahadur) Infantry Regiment of the Central
Garrison are now on frontier duty between Maku and Julfa. Apparentlv these
units were despatched from Tehran to the frontier some months ago.
9. European crisis.
The European crisis has been followed with intense interest in Tehran almost
as much by the Iranians as by the large foreign community. Apart from
Russians, Germans and Czechs comprise by far the largest proportion of the
foreign community. The Czechs, among whom are a number of Sudeten Germans,
are mostly employed by Skodas, who hold contracts for the erection of electrical
power houses, sugar refineries and armament factories, &c.
10 . The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
A consular report states that during the recent world crisis four Hansa Line
steamers, under orders from Germany, took refuge at Bandar Shahpur, a neutral
port, and there to await further instructions. A fifth steamer was also voyaging
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at the time.
11. Education.
At the invitation of the University of London, the Tehran educational
authorities have selected the following graduates to undergo a course of post
graduate study at the university : Mohammed Ali Daneshwar, Mehdi Farough.