§ 2. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Persian Government proposes to dispense with the services of certain British officers and civilian officials who were employed in Persia under the terms of the lapsed Anglo-Persian Agreement of 1919; and whether, subject to adequate compensation being paid to these officials for termination of contract, His Majesty's Government will accord to Persia complete freedom in any such action?
Mr. HARMSWORTHSuch information as I have recently received does not substantiate the intention attributed to the Persian Government in the first part of the question. The other points do not therefore arise. My hon. Friend will, however, realise that the political situation in Teheran is at present somewhat unstable.
Sir J. D. REESUnder any circumstances, is it for any foreign Government to accord complete freedom to the Government of the King of Kings?
6. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement upon the state of affairs in Persia as regards Bolshevik influence or its absence, and the attitude of the Shah's present Government in regard to military matters, and particularly to the South Persian Rifles?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe representative of the Russian Soviet Government has recently arrived in Teheran. The Persian Government were endeavouring to raise and train a suitable force for the maintenance of internal order and in-tended to take over the force hitherto known as the South Persian Rifles. The Persian Prime Minister, Seyed Zia-ed-din, has, however, now resigned, and the Government appears to be temporarily in the hands of a military dictator. How far this may be connected with the arrival of the Soviet Emissary at Teheran, I am unable at present to say. In these circumstances, while His Majesty's Government are watching events attentively, it is too soon to make any more definite statement regarding future developments.