Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎47r] (93/749)

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^ that has prevailed for some months past, possibly with increased robbery on the
road. The Farsimadan held up seven trucks between Shiraz and Bushire on the
15th October and robbed the drivers.
Azerbaijan.
12. Western Azerbaijan remains unsettled, the centre of disturbance being
IJahabad (Sauj Bulagh), where the Kurds are quarrelling with each other. His
^Paiesty s Consul-General at Tabriz reports that responsible Kurdish elements
with Russian encouragement are trying to get control.
Khuzestan.
13. The arrival in Behbehan of reinforcements of two battalions from
Tehran for the reinforcement of the Behbehan-Gach Saran area should help to
allay anxiety regarding possible dangers to A.I.O.C. interests from the
Kuh-i-Galu tribes when they move down to their winter quarters.
Russian Affairs.
14. General Melnik has again left Tabriz, it is said for a command at the
front. Colonel Damberg is temporarily commanding troops in North-Western
Persia.
15. Russian demands for Persian food supplies are increasing. They have
already purchased 25,000 tons of barley and have recently demanded 11,000 tons
of potatoes. In spite of the Soviet Ambassador’s assurance that there was no
restriction on the removal of wheat from the Soviet zone to other parts of Persia,
there seems to be little doubt that the Russian military authorities are preventing
the transport of food-stuffs produced in their zone. In view of the shortage in
Russia, this is only to be expected.
16. His Majesty’s Consul-General at Tabriz has had reports that a number
of young soldiers have recently arrived in Persia and that they are training in
North-Western Azerbaijan.
17. It is reported from Persian official sources that the Russians appear to
be preparing to make a considerable reduction in their garrison in Meshed, and
that they are removing barbed-wire fences that they had erected around certain
areas occupied by them. This report requires confirmation. A recent estimate
of the number of aircraft in Meshed showed that it has been reduced to about
forty-seven.
Polish Affairs.
18. All Poles have now been evacuated from Pahlevi with the exception of
about sixty who are sick in hospital.
Tehran, October 20, 1942.