Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎156r] (311/807)

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and was burnt out. The crew and passengers, among whom were Major the
Lord Stratheden, Coldstream Guards, and Lady Stratheden, escaped with bruises
and severe shock.
This is the first serious accident to the Iranian air mail service since its
inauguration at the end of November 1937. The pilot, Sarwan (Captain)
Mustafavi, who received his training in Europe, had never before flown a fully-
loaded D.H. ££ Rapide.” It appears that, shortly after taking off, the pilot
attempted to climb too rapidly, with the result that the plane stalled and crashed.
The crash occurred within a few yards of a Lufthansa machine, which was also
ready to take off for Berlin.
No mention of this accident has appeared in the press.
10. Communications.
(i) Roads .—The bringing into operation of the transport arrangements
between Trebizond and Tabriz has been suspended by the Turkish Government
until the end of June. According to information obtained from a Turkish source,
the road is impassable owing to heavy snow and landslides.
It is learned from a reliable source that the Iranian Government do not now
wish to continue the promotion of this trade route.
(ii) Telegra'phic .—A telegraphic and wireless telegraphic agreement was
signed in Kabul on the 7th January between representatives of Iran and
Afghanistan. This agreement provides for the establishment of direct telegraphic
communication between the two countries. Overland telegraph offices will be
established at the under-mentioned places :—
In Iran: Tayyebat (presumably Taiabad), million sheet No. 29. sq. N.
In Afghanistan: Islam Kala, million sheet No. 29, sq. O.
Radio telegraph offices already exist in the capitals of both countries.
(iii) Railways .—Work on all'branch lines of the Trans-Iranian Railway is
continuing at full pressure now that the weather is good. The station buildings,
both at Qashan and Yezd, have been begun.
11. German Interests.
On the 21st March the German Military Attache called on the British
Military Attache officially. In the course of conversation he stated that all out
standing Iranian contracts for armaments placed with Messrs. Skoda and Brno of
Czecho-Slovakia would be fulfilled. He went on to say that these firms had been
practically administered by Germany since October last, when the French interests
were taken over by Messrs. Krupp.
12. The Imperial Bank of Iran.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 4 (current), paragraph 13. Ihe closing-
down of the branch of the Imperial Bank of Iran at Aezd appeals to have caused
a poor impression among the merchants of that town, who were much in favour of
it being kept open.
The branch was suddenly closed down within the short period ot six weeks,
and no reasons were given to its clients.
As a result of the closing down of the branches also at Kerman and Zahidan
the Imperial Bank of Iran has now completely severed its long connexion with
South-East Iran.
13. Provinces.
It is reliably reported from Yezd that over 283 silk weavers have been forcibly
removed from their homes and sent under escort to work in the Shah’s silk factory An East India Company trading post.
in Mazanderan.
14. German Clearing A greement.
After prolonged negotiations the German Clearing Agreement has been
renewed for a further period of one year.
Under the old agreement there resulted an adverse balance amounting to
nearly 27 million reichsmarks in favour of Germany. In November 1938 the Shah
decided to denounce the agreement unless the Germans accepted certain modifica
tions, which included the payment in sterling of the adverse balance, the reichs
mark to be calculated at 32 to the £ steiling.