with the same load. Furthermore, to change the route would entail very great expense which could not be met out of the present subsidy. To increase that subsidy would require Parliamentary sanction. For these practical reasons it would be impossible for the British Government to pledge themselves to agree to an air route across the centre of Persia until the question had been most carefully and minutely studied, and until provision had been made for the increased cost if such a route was considered feasible. Sir Clive asked His Excellency to ascertain whether the Prime Minister would agree to Sir Clive sending the following telegram as representing the sense of His Highness’ message: Mudir-ul-Mulk said that the Prime Minister had gone off to shoot moufflen but would be back in Teheran tomorrow evening, when he would submit to His Highness the draft telegram. After his meeting with Mudir-ul-Mulk, Sir Clive wrote to Sir Austen Chamberlain of the Foreign Office: 28 March 1927 The Chef de Cabinet conveyed the following message from the Prime Minister: “Persian Government will grant permission for one return flight along Persian Gulf to India. Persian Government promises to examine possibility of granting permission for further flights, but cannot formally bind itself. Persian Government declares that such provisional permission has no connection with question of Air Convention which Medjliss has not yet ratified.” 30 March 1927 The Persian Government sent a note to the British Minister at Teheran stating: “Persian participation in Air Convention depends on approval of Medjliss. British Legation have constantly been reminded of this. Pending approval no international airway can be opened. Persian Government are consequently surprised at decision of Imperial Airways to open line April 8th. Moreover, the Persian Government had reserved the right, in the note of September 30th 1925, in accordance with convention to close any part of the Southern route when they liked. “It is obvious that this typical and very unsatisfactory communication emanated from His Majesty who is now inspecting the future alignment of the prospective railway in the mountains of Luristan. I understand that His Majesty is not expected back before about April 4th. It may therefore be impossible to obtain anything beyond permission for the first flight before His Majesty's return.” “Persian Government agrees to grant temporary permission to Imperial Airways for the flight to India across Persian territory arranged for April 8th and is prepared to renew this temporary permission for subsequent flights in order to give time to Imperial Airways to decide whether it is practicable to arrange for a route across the centre of Persia which the Persian Government is anxious to see established.”
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