The German Minister asked me if the Junkers Company would be allowed to fly to Baghdad. I informed him that in the existing situation in Europe this would be impossible, a reply which did not appear either to surprise or annoy him. Whilst at Teheran the French Minister and his Military Attaché came to see Sir Percy Loraine and myself, and made a definite suggestion that the French and English should combine in an effort to drive Junkers out of the Middle East. Sir Percy Loraine replied that this proposal could only be dealt with at home, and that the French Government should approach the British Government on so complicated a question. Sir Percy Loraine's personal opinion is that the Junkers Company in Persia will not last very long and that if Imperial Airways establishes a good reputation for efficiency and fair dealing in the Persian Gulf, they will have a great opportunity of operating all air lines in Persia. The Persian Government finally agreed to let us establish aerodromes at Bandar Dilam, Bushire, Akhan, Lingeh, Bandar Abbas, Jask and Chahbar; and to mark necessary emergency landing places between these aerodromes. The European personnel is to be limited to three per aerodrome. The British Government is to provide wireless stations at Bushire, Bandar Abbas and Chahbar; and the British Government or Imperial Airways, all buildings required for this service. The Persian Government will take over the wireless equipment on a hire purchase basis, but insists that all aerodromes and buildings must become their property without payment. The Persian Government agreed to provide customs inspection at Bushire and Chahbar. They will exempt from customs duty all technical equipment and oil (not petrol) required by the Company for its own use for five years.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUzMjY3MA==