The negotiations were now concentrated on route number one and the usual difficulties were being encountered; the Persians wanted to have everything on a very grand scale but were not prepared to put down the money for it. He was by no means sure that the scheme would go through, but he was convinced that routes numbered 2 and 3 were pure “Zukunfts musik”. Schulenburg was unable to tell me whether Junkers had any connections in London or were in contact with the Director of Civil Aviation, though he thought it likely. I expressed the view that if there was no contact, it ought to be established; this might avoid an undesirable clash of interests, and I thought it both fair and friendly to tell Count Schulenburg that, although no definite proposals had yet been made for the establishment of a British air service over Persian territory, it was quite probable that such proposals would be put forward in the near future. The matter would be of importance for us as the direct route to India so obviously lay across Persia. I did not suppose that we should wish to interfere in any way or compete with the German air services in northern Persia, but I thought I saw a distinct possibility of objection if enterprises other than British sought to establish themselves on air routes impinging on that to India. A scramble for position would be undesirable and had best be avoided on the other hand an understanding and even an arrangement for connections as between two systems might be possible and even advantageous. I explained that these were my personal views but I thought they would very likely be shared in London. Count Schulenburg said he was very glad I had given him this useful indication which he would bear in mind; he quite understood the point of view about the air route to India and found it a perfectly natural one, moreover he thought it most unlikely that Junkers would wish to clash in anyway with our interests. Percy Loraine” [1923-1931: Friedrich Werner Graf von der Schulenburg, envoy German Embassy Teheran] 20 March 1925 The Junkers representative in Teheran Mr. Jarolimek, having heard that the British Legation had been entrusted with the care of Austrian interests in Persia, called on Sir Percy Loraine at the British Legation. Mr. Jarolimek said- 1. Junkers is not seeking a monopoly of civil aviation in Persia, and in particular does not wish to collide with British interests. Junkers would be willing to cooperate with any British company seeking to establish air routes in Persia. 2. Junkers is disgusted with its dealings with Soviet Russia. Their factory in Russia has closed down, and their policy now is to avoid any route which passes over Russian territory. If a route can be established via Braila, Trebizond and Tabriz, then the Baku run would probably be abandoned. 3. Flying conditions in Persia are, on the whole, favourable. The most difficult and dangerous flight is between Teheran and Enzeli, the climatic and atmospheric conditions on either side of the Elburz range being totally different. Only an all-steel machine can withstand Persian conditions. 4. The Persian Government intends to buy from Junkers about twenty unarmed non-military machines, for use in the army. 24 March 1925 Telegram from Sir Percy Loraine in Tehran: “I have seen Jarolimek who is an Austrian not a German subject. He is most anxious to do nothing contrary to our wishes or interests and to consult me on all important points. He says that there is absolutely no question of monopoly.
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