Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎70v] (140/248)

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41. The central administrative and recruit training depots, which are an
essential part of the scheme of administrative reorganisation, have now been
established at each of the divisional headquarters outside the Russian zone of
occupation, with an American officer in an advisory capacity to every two depots.
They are, as was to be expected, meeting with much obstruction from divisional
commanders, since matters of supply and finance, from which they have been
accustomed to derive considerable profits, have now been taken out of their handjs.
and centralised in the administrative depots. In the face of this obstruction
is not surprising that General Ridley’s administrative reforms have not yet
shown convincingly good results.
Persian Gendarmerie.
42. Colonel Schwarzkopf has been given in the gendarmerie a position of
greater authority than has General Ridley in the army, and he appears to intend
to exploit it to the full. He may come into conflict with the Shah, since all present
gendarmerie officers hold army commissions from the Shah, who wishes to retain
their undivided loyalty and arrogates to himself alone the right of making
promotions. Colonel Schwarzkopf is also likely to find that financial stringency,
to which he appears to have given little consideration, may impose important
restrictions on the plans he has in mind, but to which no visible effect has yet
been given.
Persian Air Force.
43. The reorganisation of the Persian Air Force continues, particularly
in the maintenance and supply branches. Lieutenant-Colonel Si ah Poqsh,
previously liaison officer with the Royal Air Force at Doshan iappeh, is being
recalled to take charge of these activities, and has with this in view paid a visit
to the appropriate Royal Air Force establishments in the Middle Last. ^ An
R.A.F. officer has meanwhile been advising the Persians in Tehran. This
assistance has been valuable and the Persians have expresst'd appieciatiqn of it.
The adaptation of the Persian Air Force to something more like Royal Air Force
procedure should not only increase the serviceability of their aircraft but m^ke
easier and more economical the supply to them of the British material on which
they mainly rely. „ ^ . . „ , „
44. Colonel Stodakh, who is designated for the post of Chief of the 1 ersian
Air Staff, has also been on attachment to the Royal Air Force in Egypt, East
Africa and Aden, and is about to attend the next course at the Middle East
Staff College. „
45 . The offer of His Majesty s Government to supply Anson aircraft to
the Persian Air Force as alternatives to Hurricanes or Oxfords has been accepted.
The type is generally considered to be the best for the Persians pieseiit
requirements.
Press.
46 After bearing with patience the restrictions which were placed on it
during’ the conference, the Tehran press, as soon as it was allowed to do so,
expressed great satisfaction that the conference had been held m Tehran and
that it had had such a happy outcome for Persia m the form of the Three-Powei
Declaration All sections of the press welcomed the declaration and conside e
that it clarified Persia’s international position and would leave the Government
free to devote its entire energies to the much-needed improvement of internal
affairs. Much credit was given to the Shah and to Mr. Soheily for then skilfi
conduct ^ al t r h s e Tehran elections consisted mostly of complaints of
corruption, Government interference and public apathy The papers of the Left
were pessimistic about the results and saw little hope of any real reform as long
Ts the present governing classes remained in power. There was increasing
emphasis on the need for unity and. personal sacrifice and several papers called
for the formation of two or three strong political parties who would put aside
private interests and work for the good of the nation.
British Council. . .
48 In Tehran teaching of English in the institute, university schools and
technical college by British Council staff is limited only by the capacity of the staff
lari TTncrlikh is bein 0- indifferently or badly taught by mam private
mdivkhials (Persians) in various parts o^ the town and it is obvious that the