Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎45v] (90/749)

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8. After their initial setback (reported in Summary No. 40/42, paragraph 9)
the Qashgai tribes attempted to break through to their winter quarters by other /-v
routes. Held at several of these, they were eventually successful at a pass held
by a small detachment of cavalry, which is said to have fought well until some
of its leaders were wounded, when it submitted to disarmament. The Qashgai—
the section concerned is said to have been the Darashuri—carried off sixty rifles
and three light machine guns. The course of subsequent operations is not yet
known. The General Staff state that three columns have been ordered to act ^
against the offending section. Meanwhile some of the Qashgai flocks and families
are being held up by the troops; Nasir Qashgai, who with his brother Khosrow,
is within 30 miles or so of Shiraz, has telegraphed to Tehran protesting against
the action of the troops, and has requested the Governor of Shiraz to meet him.
9. Whatever the result, it is unlikely that it will be at best more than a token
disarmament of the Qashgai. The method of attempting to disarm them seems
to have been ill-judged and, desirable though their disarmament is in the interests
of security, it was considered inadvisable to urge it on the Persian Government
in present circumstances. It seems that something has not gone according to plap.
In view of the Governor-General’s repeated insistence that the forces at his
command were insufficient to re-establish Government authority in the Eiruzabad
area, when the tribes were far away in their summer quarters, it seems rash of
him to have provoked a conflict with the whole tribe. Until order is restored
it is to be expected that the Shiraz-Bushire road will be unsafe. It may be closed
altogether for a time.
A zerbaijan.
10. According to Persian official reports, Umar Khan of the Shekak, who
as reported in Summary No. 40/42, paragraph 7. had been recognised by certain
Kurdish chiefs as the Supreme Chief of the United Kurds, has been touring
Kurdish areas with an escort of 150 armed Kurds and has given himself a
standard, a red flag bearing crossed daggers and three stars, which is locally taken
to be the national flag of Independent Kurdistan. The local Persian commander
expressed fears that the situation might get out of hand, as the Kurds were
apparently relying on Russian neutrality. The Soviet Ambassador has, however,
assured the Persian Government that the Soviet authorities will co-operate to
keep order.
Russian Affairs.
11. The Russian military authorities state that at the request of the Persians
they are placing military posts on certain roads leading to the Turkish and Iraqi
frontiers for the purpose of preventing the export of grain. Reports from Tabriz
say that posts may be located at Khanah and Mahabad (Sauj Bulagh).
12. The Persian General Staff has information of the arrival of “ large ”
forces of Russian infantry at Julfa from the Caucasus, and of the hiring of
accommodation for officers at Khoi that would seem to indicate the intended
location there of a headquarters staff.
Fighting French Affairs.
13. The French National Committee has offered six scholarships, each of
24,000 Syrian francs, for Persian students at medical, law and engineering schools
in Beirut.
A merican A ffairs.
14. Admiral Standley, the American Minister in Moscow, has arrived in
Tehran on his way to Washington.
Polish Interests.
15. The number of Polish evacuees in Tehran on 12th October was as
follows :—
(a) By Pahlevi route—
Staff
Civilians
(b) By Askhabad route—
Military personnel
Civilians
In addition to the above there are
at Pahlevi.
Tehran, October 13, 1942.
Military
6,420
23,934
450
855
military personnel and 1,307 civilians
1,268