Coll 28/39(2) ‘Persia. Printed Correspondence, 1937–’ [‎156v] (312/320)

42
in an angry mood over the shortage and disorder threatened.
The governor and also the chief of the municipality were finally
summoned to Tehran at the beginning of the month, and the
former dismissed. On their departure the bread situation at
once returned almost to normal both as regards quantity and
quality. Whether the shortage was actually engineered by the
Germans or not, they made good use of it in their whispering
campaign against the Shah and the British.
(e) It is perhaps not without interest that the German organisation in
Azerbaijan -was carefully overhauled in the period April to June
of this year. The German consul went to Berlin, ostensibly on
leave. He was replaced by one Leverkuehn, said to be a high
Nazi official and even a personal friend of Hitler, who tightened
up and overhauled the Nazi party organisation in Azerbaijan
during this period. _ Recently the German minister also paid a
visit to Tabriz. It is said the purpose of his visit was to en
quire A booklet formed of a single gathering of nested bifolia. whether the expenditure of funds on propaganda was com
mensurate with the results obtained.
(f) As regards the attitude of the Armenian minority in Azerbaijan,
see paragraph 8 above.
(g) Russians in Azerbaijan are not numerous, nor as far as can be
ascertained are they unduly active. It is thought, however, that
in the event of trouble the lower classes, at least, would turn to
Russia rather than to Germany.
(h) The attitude towards Turkey of the official classes in Azerbaijan,
v hose higher ranks are, as stated above, drawn from other parts
of Iran, is one of the utmost suspicion, on account of a widespread
belief that Turkey would like to incorporate Azerbaijan within
f J 01 J tiers - Th. 1 ? belief is perhaps in part due to the
attitude of the Azerbaijanis themselves, who tend to stress the
tact that they are Turks and not Persians. It should not be
thought, however, that they would necessarily, in fact, welcome
incorporation m Turkey ; and it should also be borne in mind
that there is a considerable difference between the “ Osmanli ”
Turk and the Azerbaijan Turk.
(34)
From British Legation, Tehran, No. 152 (218|15|40), dated the 14th
December 1940.
Tehran despatch No. 23 to M. of I. of 14th December 1940.
Enclosure to Serial No. (34).
Despatch from British Legation- Tfttdaxt ™ Ar
No. 23|(21 8 |15|1940); dated the’ 14th DboeSL
continuation*^ r re P ort the Press
enclosed m my despatch No. 22 of the 18 th October 1940 Ise^lNo (33) H
Maje^Vs'p^efp^Secte^ 0 of State^for^Fore^Tff. ?° rWar 1 ded to His
Intelligence Department, Foreign Office • the SecretP * Af « lrS /i the PohtlcaI
India in the External Affairs Denartme’nt • jf ,. ar ; v to the Government of
Bagdad, and Ankara ; and to the Middle E^st Intefence ^
Sub-Enclosure to Serial No. (34).
Report by the Press Attache, to British Legation, Tehran No 218115140
dated the 14th December 1946 ’ 21 ■ dl40 >
and llr^it^tryoVft^tllo^rrS 11 ^ 218|14|4 ° ° f 18th ° ctober ’
% effect upon public opinion in Iran of fUn * 4
1118 Bdlish raids - 6 ™>-