Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎6r] (11/749)

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-8 JUL 1342
Copy No.
Sz> i?. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received June 25.)
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114
(No. 190.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 24, the 10th-16th June, compiled
by the military attache to this legation.
Gsv-tlicoh lc-
Tehran, June 16, 1942. / .
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Enclosure.
Military Attache's Intetligence Summary No. 24 for the Period
June 10-16, 1942.
(Secret.)
Persian Affairs.
Legal.
DRAFT regulations have been laid before the Majlis to regularise the
establishment of military courts formed under the Military Government Law of
1909-10. There were no such regulations previously in force, and it was not clear
what offences were triable by military courts. The principal offences now to be
brought within the jurisdiction of such courts are offences against the safety of
the Realm, subversive movements against the Constitution (to profess a belief in
communism is a specific offence), sabotage, certain breaches of the Press Law,
and offences against the anti-hoarding laws.
2. The Government, not content with the powers given to it by the Anti-
Hoarding Law, has asked the Majlis for full powers to deal with problems of
food distribution. On the 14th June the Majlis approved a single-article Bill
which gives the Government full powers to take any necessary measures, in
addition to those authorised in the Anti-Hoarding Law, for the acquisition and
distribution of food-stuffs.
Economic.
3. The press, Parliament and the public are greatly concerned about the
question of food for the next twelve months. Unfavourable reports of the
harvest reach Tehran from many parts of the country. Serious shortages
undoubtedly do exist in some areas, but it was to be expected that local officials
and landowners would underestimate their own resources. An even approxi
mately accurate estimate of grain available cannot yet be made. The current
belief that there is a shortage will encourage even the peasant to hoard his grain.
4. The Government has now fixed the buying price of grain for certain
areas, of which the following are examples :—
Rials fer ton.
Kerman 1,500
Lars 1,600
Khuzestan ... ... ... ... ... 1.650
5. The shortage of motor transport, which is largely due to shortage of
tyres, is a problem which is likely to be of increasing complexity. It affects not
only the distribution of supplies, but also the ability of the Persian forces to
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