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CHAPTER IX

ADMINI STRATION REPORT OF 1HE KHORRAMSHAHR CONSULATE
rOR THE YEAR 1944. .

I.— H.frPs CONSULATE.
Personnel.— Major A.C. Stewart, O.B.E., held charge through­
out the year as Consul.
Captain R.A. McConagfrey held charge as Vice-Consul
till the 20tli April, and Captain W.R. Howson from the 9th
October till the end of the year.
Consular Statistics.—
British subjects in Area 4582
Passports issued ... • • • 453
Passports renewed ... • • • 306
Endorsements granted ... 1878
Visas granted •.-. • • • 342
Eirths registered 32
Marriages performed .......................... 7
Documents legalised and attested, etc 486
Shipping protests registered • • • 31
Fees levied • • • • • • • • • £2248-9-6d.
II.— BRITISH INTERESTS.

Trade.— War restrictions have again curtailed commercial
activities. There have however been far-reaching develop­
ments in the port facilities and communications with the
interior which must inevitably increese the importance of
Khorramshahr as a commercial centre, after the war, and
fully justify the presence cf a Trade Agent whose appoint­
ment is under discussion at the tine cf writing.

Ar.glo-Irani an Oil Company.— The year has witnessed a further .
development in the Abadan Refinery and a great increase in
the number of British subject's employed there. The rapidity
of this increase has created many fresh administrative
problems which have been rendered more difficult to solve
owing to shortages of shipping and materials.
Ill__ FOREIGN INTERESTS.

Representation.— The only other foreign civil representative
in the area is the Vice-Consul for Iraq. This appointment
was held by Mr. Ahsan Suleiman from the.beginning of the year
till the 3rd October, end by Mr. Khalil Ibrahim from tne
3rd October till the end of the year.

Trade.— There nave from time to time been reports of
proposals to establish a Russian Trade Agent in this area,
but nothing so far has cone of then, though it seems reason­
able to expect that, with the rebuilding of their devastated
industries, they will not overlook the importance of a port
which has proved its capacity by handling vast quantities of
war materials, and which can give them an easy outlet for
their trade with South-East Asia.
Towards the end of the year representatives of the
Russian Consulate in Ahwaz showed considerable interest in
the establishment of a War Propaganda Centre in Abadan.

IV,