LAND OF THE WIND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1941, Page 7

LAND OF THE WIND

IMPORTANCE OF IRAN STRATEGIC POSITION. SURVEY BY MR J. E. TIER. An informative talk on Iran was given by Mr J. E. Tier, M.A., Dip. Social Science, Dip. Ed., of the Wairarapa [ College staff, at today's meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club. In view of the strategic importance of Iran in the present struggle, Mr Tier’s address, which was particularly well presented, received a most attentive hearing. The president, Mr Norman Lee, presided over a large attendance of members. “Persia, now given the native name of Iran, is in a vitally strategic position today. After' a long period of very unsettled boundaries it has now a stable position, the final disputes with Iraq being settled in 1937,” said Mr Tier. He added that in 1828 a treaty with Russia fixed the northern boundaries at the Caspian Sea and bordering the Russian transcaucasian and transcaspian territories. In 1871 the southern boundary was fixed at the Persian and Oman Gulfs of the Arabian Sea and in 1881 the eastern boundaries were fixed with Turkistan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan while since the last war the western boundaries were fixed with Iraq. Mr Tier then gave a most interesting outline of the country’s history from 1700 B.C. to the present day. Dealing with the geographical outline of the country Mr Tier said that' Iran was 6 times the area of New Zealand, and was a high plateau. The climate in winter was one of moderate winds and. rain, in summer a strong dust-la-den northerly blew almost unceasingly for four months and was called the Shamel. Iran was known as the “land of the wind.” The winters were severe, and the summers unbearably hot. The population was 15,000,000. Transport was costly, and its lack prevented the proper exploitation of its considerable mineral wealth. In fertile patches in the great plateau fruit was grown in wide variety. Melons, watermelons, grapes, apricots, cherries, plums and apples were within the reach of the poorest. Dates and olive groves existed in the south. It was known that deposits existed of gold, silver, lead, copper, zinc, tin, mercury, nickel and manganese in quantities rather vague. Coal was mined and marketed at Teheran. Deposits of salt, gypsum, and sulphur were plentiful but were exploited only for local use. Of late wheat had been grown in the valleys but only for local use.

“It is in oil and strategic positions that Iran owes its real importance,” said Mr Tier. “The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was registered in London in 1909 to work oil concessions in Iran until 1960, having obtained exclusive rights over 500,000 square miles. In 1908 large quantities of oil were found in south-west Persia. Owing to the shortage of finance the British Government entered into agreements with the company and as a result supply contracts to the Admiralty still exist. Iran, under the ex-Shah gradually extended its grip on both this and American oil ventures so that the Iran population got work and the Shah got finance for development work. The crude oil is refined mostly in Persia, 26,000 people, mostly Iranians, being employed. The Iran Government, as a share of its profits in this connection in 1924 received £377,575, in 1927 £1,341,963, while today it received £2,000,000. In output of oil Iran ranks fourth in the world. In 1927 it was 5,000,000 tons, in 1937 10,000,000 tons and it is now probably 12,000,000 tons. Iraq produced 5,000,000 tons, lid Saud Arabia 1,000,000 tons and Bahrein Isles in the Persian Gulf 1,000,000 tons, making a total approximate tonnage of 18 to 20 millions per annum. The output of the Russian Baku wells is about 30 million tons per annum. “This Western Asia oil in _ itself makes this area very important in the present war,” said Mr Tier. “As, firstly, Iraq oil makes very good lubricating oil, a factor too often overlooked by many. Secondly, there is 20,000,000 tons—half as' much again as the Rumanian output to Germany and this on the spot, in the Eastern Mediterranean for supply to any theatie of war without long communication on travel lines. The strategic position of Iran is obvious. Firstly is the need to protect that oil supply. Secondly, it is the Gateway to India and Afghanistan. Thirdly it is a base for any campaign in the East whether in Turkey, Russia, or the Balkans.”