581/581/378.)
MAIL COPY.
go.
596.
British Legation,
Tehran,
December 18th, 1923.
75
My Lord,
In two cases the Persian Government has recently
taken up the attitude that the Persian Nationality
Law does not allow them to recognise the claim of
British subjects of Persian origin or descent to enjoy
their rights as British subjects in Persia because they
had not obtained the permission of the shah to change
their nationality.
whe
The first instance concerns two British subjects
named Nemazi, father and son, The father, Haji
Mohammed Hassan Nemazi, was maturalised in Hong Kong, where
he is a well-known trader in opium and shipowner.
son, Ahmed Nemazi was born in Hong Kong and both are
certified by the Governor of Hong Kong to be fully naturalised
British subjects although in the case of the father it is
not certain as yet whether his nationality is restricted
to Hong Kong or is Imperial. The son appears to be a
British born subject; but in both cases the sanction of
the Imperial Persian Government does not appear to have
been obtained to the change of nationality.
On these grounds Nemazi and his son were deprived
of the ir British passports on entering Persia, were
compelled to take out Persian passports and the
Persian Government has maintained its right to consider
them as Persian subjects.
Most Honourable
The Marquese Curzon of Kedleston, K.Ġ.,
etc. etc., eto..
Foreign Office.
I