Page 630 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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were marred by a general strike In Khuzistan in July and by
a smaller one In Abadan by the Indian artisans In August.
The general strike was suddenly declared on the 14th
July throughout the whole of the Oil Company's area in Khu­
zistan without any warning being given to the authorities
or any demands being presented to them. On the morning of
the 14th, the Tudeh party posted pickets and street guards
at strategic points in Abadan and Khorramshahr. and some of
the British staff of the Company were subjected to the most
humiliating indignities. Martial law was declared by the
Military authorities at noon on the somd day, but largo
meetings of the strikers, calculated to rouso the feelings
of the men, continued to be held in public. In the ovenlng
the Tudeh mob got completely out of control and attacked and
burned the Arab Union Headquarters and deliberately ourdared
and dismembered two prominent Arab contractors. x hey then
set part of the bazaar alight and commenced burning cars and
lorries. The Military were ordered to open firo and a general
melee then ensued between the Arabs and the Tudoh nob. The
resulting casualties, the majority of which wore Arabs,
amounted to about 24 killed and 180 seriously wounded. Mo
damage resulted in Abadan to the Company's installations, but
a state of extreme alarm was caused and the production or oil
was brought temporarily to a standstill. The strike in
Abadan ended on the 16th July, when most of the non returned
to work. A separate report has already been submitted in
this connexion.
The strike of Indian artisans occurred a few woeks later,
in August. Their main grievance, which first came to light
in June, was directed against their own Welfare and Labour
Officers, who, to enhance their own standing in the eyes of
the Company's officials, allegedly oppressed and abused them,
and misrepresented their grievances to the Company regarding
the Indian Club, Welfare, General Treatment, Accommodation,
Transport. Food, Medical Facilities etc. The majority of
Indian artisans therefore demanded that these officers should
be removed and that an Englishman should be appointed to look
after their affairs. But the Company authorities were un­
willing to dispense with the services of the Welfare and
Labour Officers unless the allegations against them were
proved and refused to have their hand forced by threats of
resignations or strikes. On the 4th August, after due warning)
about 700 Indian Artisans, representing about 50{f of theif to-
tal strength, went on strike as their demands had not been
met, but they returned to work on the 6th August on being
informed that their complaints were already being investigated
by H.M. Representatives, Independent investigations made
by the Company were not, however, able to substantiate the
charges levelled against the officers and the Company's
officials then felt certain that this movement was of a
political nature, engineered by the Tudeh and members of the
Indian Communist Party, who had been deliberately sent to this
area to create discord and to link up with the Communists in
Iran. H.M. Consul was provided with the names of those
artisans suspected of being Communists, but a check-up
revealed that none of the persons mentioned had come to notice
politically before Joining the Company. The services of
the Welfard and Labour Officers were however dispensed.with
later on the advice of H.M, Ambassador, and Mr. Walker was
appointed to look after the interests of the Indian artisans.
Wo further signs of discontent have since been apparent.
The Company'8 other main problems during the year
also eoncerned its labour, which had for a long time demanded
suitable /-