Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎16r] (31/749)

TH^LDOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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19 AUfi 1942
PERSIA.
SECRET.
ObtZL
With tha Compliments
of the
Under Secretary of Stat©
for Foreign Affairs
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July 23, 1942.
Section 3.
Copy No.
[E 4360/19/34]
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received July 23.)
(No. 229.)
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. 28, the 8th-14th July, compiled bv
the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, July 14, 1942.
114
Enclosure.
Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 28 for the Period July 8-14, 1942.
(Secret.) *—
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THE position of the Cabinet grows more shaky and the resignation of the
Prime Minister is commonly believed to be imminent. Criticism and discontent
are more openly expressed and are concentrated chiefly on the Government’s
failure to inspire confidence that they are capable of ensuring the country’s wheat
supplies. In the Majlis there is opposition chiefly from the Adalat party (see
Appendix to Summary No. 25/42), who are annoyed because they have not
secured representation in the Cabinet, The two local candidates for the
premiership, Tadayyun (M.A. 288; F.O. 207) and Qawam-es-Sultaneh (M.A. 295;
F.O. 213), are very active.
2. There are rumours that certain generals are plotting a coup d'Etat
which will establish a military dictatorship with the Shah as a figure-head.
These rumours are probably not without foundation, but there is little indication
that plans are very far advanced or that the Shah knows of, or could be persuaded
to agree to, such a project. He has, however, made remarks that indicate a
weakening faith in the virtues of democracy and the liberty of the subject. He
continues to associate himself closely with the army, regards himself not only
as its constitutional head, but also as in fact its commander-in-chief, and is
inclined to sympathise with the generals, who desire to reduce to the minimum
control over the army by Government and Parliament. The record of Parliament
and Cabinets since the abolition of the dictatorship is sufficient justification for
a modification of the Shah’s previous views. Few generals have any faith in
Persian politicians.
3. The Government is, indeed, being very ineffective. It has as yet made
no use of the full powers given to it by the Majlis to deal with the collection and
distribution of food-stuffs. Although pro-Axis and anti-Ally propaganda is very
active, it has in no case taken action except under pressure from His Majesty’s
Legation. The proclamation issued (see Summary No. 27/42, paragraph 3) seems
to have been just eyewash for the Allies, as the Anti-Hoarding Law seems to have
been eyewash for the people.
Economic.
4. The position of the wheat supplies in the country is still obscure. Not
even an approximate estimate has been made of what is available. It is, however,
clear that wheat will not voluntarily be surrendered at the prices now being
offered by Government. Some pressure is being brought on the Government to
free the price of wheat.
5. Some weeks ago in Isfahan an experiment was tried whereby the bakers
were permitted to purchase half their requirements of flour in the black market,
the other half being allotted from the Government grain stores. The result was
a rise of nearly 60 per cent, in the price of bread, but at the same time supplies
became plentiful. More recently in Shiraz the market for flour has been freed
[32—13]
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