Coll 30/9(2) 'Admin. Reports of the Persian Gulf - 1945 -' [‎458r] (915/1148)

- 5 •
Conditions which bou before tht» entry of the
; Hies into Iran still further deteriorated towards the end of
the year, ilthou^h foreign exchange could be obtained no re
easily, the difficulty in obtaining export permits fron the
country of origin end limited shipping sp^ce hniidic^ppeG
import trade.
respite the closing of t K .e nueeian route to ‘errony the^
.rice >f wool and therefore the price of carpets remained high.
The export of carpets to v*nerica was maintained in spite of
shipping restrictions and the Tehran market absorbed an increa
sing quantity.
restriction of trade opportunities has also led to an
increase in the value of Ir&sovable property around Kersiun.
s gift of iials 250,000 was received for the poor of
kermn fro*; the ^habTs privy purse. For the same purpose i ls
1*0,Oou ana 80 f 00u were sent to Yeatd ana Baw respectively. Cut
of the latest census population of 52,000 %er »an has 6,000
persons listen as beggars.
IX - Politic 1 Oitu tion
aurin, the first half of the year Keruan had several
visits frota German "geologists^ but the coup d'etat of ash id
**li in Iraq, the atUcx on i ussio, the entry of the Hies into
Iran and the abdication of chah Teas h*d little effect on tne
majority of the population in this area. lthou^;h some of the
local officials snd enay officers were believea to have pro-
Naxi sympathies, apart from listening-in to lersiin broauc ats
frorc Berlin there was little active pro-ler^n propaganda in
this area. <. German news-reel of the attack on France
Holland was shown at the local cineaw and attracted large
crowds, -hen, however, the German engineer of the local spin
ning mills distributed some car-sized Tasi flags during tl;e
Iraq troubles they were Immediately confiscated by the ~hief
of t olice•
The conscripts of this ’Jston were iinaffected by the
entry of the Allies and as far as is known there were few
desertions.
The ex-Th&h’s abdication and passage through this *stan
excited little interest, there being a crowd of less than 200
people to see hia emb rx at Bandar bbae. . *s Consul was
present on board when the ex- hah embarked* The ex-Ahah u.a
not seera unduly aistiurbed by the tarn of events ^nd conveyed
his thanks to H.k f s (>overn^nt and to the lovernaient of India
for the ^ssiatunce ^iven to hi.a mu for placing a steamer at
his uisposal.
The predominant features in local politics are inaeed
fear of Aus&ia ana consequently a ue&ire to loox upon the
British a friena to assist U*em against possible ussian
deaunus against Iranian sovereignty and the risiit; cost of
living.
However effective the 3.B.C. broadcasts iaay be tae
^eihi broadcasts lost some of their popularity by developing
into s series of "sermons*) aided by printed propaganda, the
salient factor in the minas of the population is sufficient
food at a price they c n afford to p&y.
with the removal of the ban on Irr-mians having contact
fclth ^foreigners” the asei*ch?int classes well ss oifici Is
now seeking the advice and help of the ritish ('onsul te*
v t the end of the year public opinion was still un-
deciaed about th<e new Shah. There w-s no indication th t tne
increase in official salaries had decreased corruption amongst
officials. here w.s, however, little opposition to the idea
of a tri-partite treaty which it was though might bring Tran
benefits and would not in any case do much ;?iore then recognise
an existing situation.
B - YK3D
ihe district of Yezd wte added to the jurisdictio i of
H.4*8 Consul at KernKin in October. ormerly within trie
consular jurisdiction of Ahlr&x, the change was «i4ue iainly on