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ments. This has slightly raised the stock of the new Government. He has also
issued orders to all heads of Finance Ministry Departments in the provinces that
the collection of wheat is to have priority over all other work.
6. The Department-General of Food Supply has authorised the purchase
of the peasant's share of the grain crop at the official price, half to be paid in cash
and half in monopoly goods—sugar, tea, piece-goods and cigarettes, which the
peasant is now unable to obtain except at the exorbitant rates of the black market.!^
7. The time-limit imposed under the Anti-Hoarding Regulations for the
declaration of stocks of essential goods (see Summary No. 34/42, paragraph 4)
expired on the 25th August. Investigations are said to be now in progress to
discover undeclared stocks. The press states that already concealed tyres and
wheat have been found.
8. The Press Bureau of His Majesty’s Legation had a statement published
in the press to counteract current propaganda, which says that there are large
quantities of wheat still to be imported in accordance with the undertaking of
the iVllies. The statement points out that the Allies made no promise to import
any specified quantity of wheat and that their liability extends no further than
the undertaking in article 7 of the Tripartite Treaty of Alliance to give to Persia
such economic assistance as they can. The British had, in fact, since August
1941 imported 70,000 tons of wheat and the Russians 23,000 tons. Moreover,
neither British troops nor Polish troops or civilians consumed any Persian wheat.
All wheat consumed by them was imported. Some wheat was being purchased by
British agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the feeding of Persian labourers employed by the British on
roads, railways, &c. The propaganda to the effect that there were still quantities
of wheat to be imported by the Allies was encouraged by the Government in the
hope that it would induce hoarders to part with their stocks.
9. The Government has announced its intention of introducing bread
rationing in Tehran. As a census of the population has first to be taken, there is
likely to be some delay.
10. Further reports have been received from Khorassan of the excellent
harvests there, particularly in Turbat i Haidari, Gunabad, Kashmar and Kuchan.
Undertakings from land-owners in Khorassan for the delivery of grain to Govern
ment now amount to 13,351 tons of wheat and 3,669 tons of barley.
Transport.
11. His Majesty’s Consul-General in Khorassan gives the following
estimate of motor transport resources in Khorassan :—
Registered in Meshed, which is the registration centre for all Eastern
Iran : 388 cars, 498 lorries and buses.
Actually working on roads from Meshed : 45-55 lorries and buses.
Laid up owing to lack of tyres, in Meshed or other centres : 300 lorries
and buses.
Laid up owing to lack of spare parts : 100 lorries and buses.
Unrepairable : 45 lorries and buses.
No cars are now available for hire in Meshed.
Lorry freight rates are :—
Zahidan to Meshed : 900 rials per 650 lb.
Meshed to Zahidan : 850 rials per 650 lb. ^ ^
A ppoint ments — Civil.
12. Haji Muhammad Hassan Amir Nazmi Afshar (Nazm Sultaneh) to be
Farmandar of Rezaieh and Assistant Governor-General of Western Azerbaijan.
Persian Forces.
13. The much-hated Amnieh is to seek popularity under another name and
another dress. It will in future be called “ Gendarmerie,” and the detested blue
uniform is to be replaced by grey-green. Meanwhile, in the provinces it shows no
improvement. It remains oppressive to the weak and cowardly before the strong.
Its numbers are being reduced by desertion and lack of recruits to take the place
of time-expired men. The rates of pay are insufficient to attract volunteers.