CONFIDENTIAL
42934
00 TEHRAN
GRS 277
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 171430Z DEC 82
TO IMMEDIATE TEHRAN
TELEGRAM NUMBER 419 OF 17 DECEMBER.
YOUR TEL NO 836: VISAS FOR IRANIANS
1.
EGERTON SUMMONED FARROKHROUZ TODAY. HE WENT THROUGH
THE DELAYS WHICH BURNETT'S VISA APPLICATION HAD ENCOUNTERED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT BURNETT WAS A RELIEF MEMBER OF OUR
DIPLOMATIC STAFF IN TEHRAN AND THAT WE HAD ISSUED 80 OFFICIAL
VISAS TO IRANIANS SINCE 14 OCTOBER. WE KNEW THE MFA PAD
AUTHORISED THE ISSUE OF A VISA ON 11 DECEMBER. WE EVEN
KNEW THE TELEX NUMBER.
WE WERE ASTONISHED AT THE DELAY.
WE HOPED THAT IT DID NOT REFLECT AN UNFRIENDLY ATTITUDE BY
MEMBERS OF FARROKHROUZ'S STAFF. WE HAD ENCOUNTERED NO
SUCH ATTITUDE IN TEHRAN. WE REQUIRED AN EXPLANATION.
2.
FARROKHROUZ SAID THAT THE TELEX AUTHORISING THE VISA
HAD BEEN SIGNED BY THE WRONG PERSON. INSTRUCTIONS WITH
THE CORRECT SIGNATURE HAD NOW BEEN RECEIVED. THE VISA COULD
BE ISSUED. ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE FOR THIS THE SAME
AFTERNOON.
3.
EGERTON THANKED FARROKHROUZ FOR THIS. HE SAID THAT
IT WAS OUR WISH THAT RELATIONS WITH IRAN HOULD IMPROVE AND
NOT BE OBSTRUCTED BY INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS. HE ADVISED
STRONGLY AGAINST THE IRANIANS ALLOWING THEMSELVES TO BE
ENGAGED IN A WAR OVER OFFICIAL VISAS. SUCH CONFRONTATIONS
INVARIABLY WORKED TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF THE SIDE WITH
THE GREATEST NUMBER OF STAFF. HE NOTED THAT THE IRANIANS
HAD REPRESENTATION IN LONDON, HONG KONG AND MANCHESTER,
WHEREAS BRITAIN MERELY HAD AN OFFICE IN THE SWEDISH EMBASSY
IN TEHRAN.
4.
THE MEETING ENDED AMICABLY WITH EGERTON OFFERING TO BE
AT FARROKHROUZ'S DISPOSAL FOR THE RESOLUTION OF FUTURE
PROBLEMS.
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CONFIDENTIAL
WP
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