Coll 28/65 ‘Persia. Perso-Soviet Commercial Relations.’ [‎191r] (382/482)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
PERSIA.
OONFIDENTIAL.
[E 6129/21/34] No. X.
Mr. Strang to Sir John Simon.—(Received October 13.)
(No. 566.)
Moscow, October 10, 1933.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that a “ Tass” message from Baku
published in to-day s Izvestiya contains an account of an interview with
Karakhan on his return from his recent visit to Persia.
2. Questioned about the character of his reception, Karakhan replied as
follows :—
“My reception was of a very friendly and cordial character, both at
Pahlavi, where I was met by representatives of the Persian Government and
of the local authorities, and at Tehran, where, in the course of six days, a
very full programme of inspections of new constructional work and of
conversations with leading personalities was carried out. On my return
journey, I invariably met with an attentive and cordial reception from the
local authorities.”
3. In reply to a question as regards the results of his journey, Karakhan
said that the journey was in the nature of an official visit made at the invitation
of the Persian Government. The chief result of the journey had been that it
had given him the opportunity of establishing direct contact with the leaders
and State functionaries of Persia, and to achieve a mutual understanding with
them over a number of questions in which both parties were interested. It had
also assisted in reso lving c ertain questions which had been outstanding in the
past in regard to relations between the two countries. “ The results of my visit,
therefore, concluded Karakhan, ‘ ‘ will undoubtedly lead to the improvement
and strengthening of Soviet-Persian friendship.”
4. When asked what had made the greatest impression upon him in the
course of his visit, Karakhan replied that “the most characteristic feature of
present-day Persia is the large road, economic and cultural construction which
leaps to the eye at every place which I visited. I consider it particularly
important to draw attention to the great extent of the construction of metalled
roads and of bridges and the successful work in continuing the Trans-Persian
Railway. I travelled on this railway from Shahi. through Sari, to Ashrafa and
must mention the model orderliness and good condition of the Trans-Persian
Railway in its northern section. I must also mention the construction of a
number of industrial enterprises, of factories, which were models in respect of
equipment, and of the agricultural school at Karaj, the school of old-fashioned
artistic handicrafts in Tehran, a number of tea plantations in Mazanderan and
Gilan, and a number of new hospitals and newdy-constructed convalescent
sanatoria on the Shah’s property of Sakhte-ser. The Soviet Government cannot
fail to welcome this construction, which provides Persia with the opportunity
of strengthening its economic and cultural position."
I have, &c.
WILLIAM STRANG.
' P.Z.
7038
October 13, 1933.
SECTioNHrr———