Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎253v] (506/807)

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14. Communications.
(i) Reference Intelligence Summary No. 10, paragraph 9. Isfahan^Azna
Route .—A consular report from Isfahan states that the new Isfahan-Azna route
will not be completed until the middle of next year, despite press reports and .A-
assurances to the contrary given to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Sections
this road as far as Dumbineh (Million Sheet 9, C.3) have been completed, buC'
from thence to Azna the road is a mere mule-track. The alignment avoids
Khunsar, turning west at Dumbineh. During the winter the road will be liable
to snow blocks, as it is high and exposed in some stretches. An interesting
feature is that the road is being constructed like a permanent-way, which seems
to indicate that a branch line may eventually be constructed between Azna and
Isfahan.
(ii) Quetta-Nushki-Nokkundi-Zahidan Railway .—Oral enquiries have
been made by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as to whether the Government of
India are prepared to recommission the line between Nokkundi and Qila Safed
(Mirjawa). If this is so, the Imperial Government will recommission the line on
their side of the frontier from Mirjawa to Zahidan.
15. Iranian State Railways.
Tabriz Branch .—On the 13th August this line was formally opened to traffic
as far as Sultanieh (Million Sheet 8 , A.4), 39 kilom. from Zinjan.
Iff. The Boui 'se.
The construction of an immense Stock Exchange has begun in Tehran. The
site chosen for this building consists of an area of more than 350,000 square metres
in the centre of Tehran. Commercial firms are expected to construct new premises
in close proximity. A special exhibition hall will also be built which will
permanently house an exhibition of Iranian products.
17. Foreign Fjducational Establishments.
In accordance with the orders given by H.I.M. the Shah in September of
last year (vide Intelligence Summary No. 17, 1939, paragraph 6 ) that all foreign-
run educational establishments should be handed over to the Ministry of
Education, the well-known American college at Tehran, now known as the Lycee
Elburz, and other American schools at Hamadan, Resht and Tabriz have now
been formally handed over. The Imperial Government has agreed to pay the
sum of $1,200,000 in four equal instalments to the Board of Foreign Missions of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America as compensation.
18. Landing-Grounds in South and Central Iran.
A list of landing-grounds in South and Central Iran is given as an appendix
to this Summary. The maps contained in the Military Report on the Anglo-
Iranian Oil Company Oilfield Area, 1938, should be consulted for the location of
several of these landing-grounds.
H. J. UNDERWOOD,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Military A ttadhe.
Tehran, August 24, 1940.