ملف ‎٤٤٨٠\ ١٩٢٣ الجزء ١ "الخليج الفارسي: ملكية شط العرب" [ظ‎‎٣‎٥‎٣] (٧٣٢/٧١٩)

6
and disorganisation to all concerned at Abadan at a time when he was hav.^g
great difficulty in maintaining any feeling of confidence in the minds of a large staff
at a moment when the Capitulations Avere about to be withdrawn. He desired to
emphasise the company’s keen desire to work at all times in complete accord Avith the
Persian Government in giving effect to its natural aspirations, but such co-operation I
could only be effected provided it Avas consulted and made aware beforehand of the
means to be adopted, and then only provided they were calculated to avoid loss or
damage to its interests.
His Excellency replied that he Avould endeavour to arrange that such action
should be taken in future, but asked Mr. Jacks to remember that the situation Avas in
many respects abnormal, and that he Avas continuously working single-handed.
Mr. Jacks said the instructions which had been issued had been cabled direct to
London from Abadan, that they could only be expected to create in the minds of the
board the feeling that the Persian Government’s intentions were definitely opposed to
the interests of the company, and that it would be with difficulty that he Avould now
be able to eradicate this impression.
His Excellency said that in future he would endeavour to secure Mr. Jacks’s
assistance in carrying out the Persian Government’s policy in the south, and hoped
that he would be able to reciprocate more from the point of view of an official of the
Government, as by doing so he Avould be rendering great assistance on the part of the
company.
Mr. Jacks indicated that he felt that possibly the Minister of Finance was not
well disposed towards the company. His Excellency replied that he had received
a telegram from the Minister of Finance expressing in high terms his appreciation of
the company’s operations, and he asked him to believe that his action Avas not hostile
to the company but to Iraq.
His Excellency reminded Mr. Jacks that some two years ago, in a conversation
he had had with him, he had expressed the opinion that the Port of Basra should
have been an international port, and it was Persia’s aim to endeavour to achieve this
object.
In conclusion, Mr. Jacks informed his Excellency that it was always a pleasure
to come to him, as his attitude invariably evidenced sympathy and assistance towards
the requirements of the company. Indeed, it was this confidence that had led him to
refrain from pressing further the question of safeguards for the company following the
withdraAval of the Capitulations, as he had gained the impression that when the time
came his Excellency Avould co-operate in securing for the company all reasonable
safeguards for its work. His Excellency replied that with the exception of the two
points already opposed by him in Mr. Jacks’s unofficial draft of the company’s safe
guards he had given his personal attention to the provision of a Court of Appeal for
Khuzistan, and had himself selected a very sound, peaceful and able man for the post
of judge of the New Court of Appeal, called Abdul Rahim Khan Rahnama. His
Excellency said that his reaction was of necessity in a theoretical stage at present,
but that in practice Mr. Jacks Avould realise that his confidence had not been
misplaced.
T. L. JACKS.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1 .
Sir R. Clive to Taimourtache.
Mon cher Ministre, Teheran, le 19 avril 1928.
COMME vous avez 1’habitude de me parler toujours avec une parfaite franchise,
qtie j’apprecie, et comme je sais que vous preferez que je vous parle avec la meme
franchise, je me permets de vous adresser cette lettre personnelle.
Nous sommes en train de negocier de nombreuses questions et je crois pouvoir
dire que nous sommes d’accord en pensant qu’il est dans 1 ’interet des deux pays de les
regler. J’espere qu’il sera possible de trouver un terrain d’accord pour an moins une
partie de ces questions avant le 10 mai. J’espere aussi que votre Excellence admettra
que mon Gouvernement, ayant ete le premier a reconnaitre le nouveau regime en
Rerse, s’est toujours montre conciliant et anime du desir de trouver une solution
amicale a toutes nos difficultes. Je n’ai qu’a faire mention du tarif differentiel en
faveur de la Russie pendant une periode de six annees pour demontrer le desir de ne
pas creer d embarras pour votre Gouvernement.