Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎48v] (96/749)

Communications.
6. The Soviet Transportation Directorate has stated that the Pahlevi-
Astara road is now open for all kinds of traffic.
A ppointments — Civil.
7. Abdullah Adi Isfandiari to be Farmandar of Kashan.
Internal Security.
General.
8. As is usual when the Government is being criticised or challenged in
Tehran security has deteriorated. The consul-general at Bushire reports increas
ing brigandage in Dashtestan and truculence on the parts of the chiefs of Dashti.
In the Kermanshah Province villages are suffering from the depredations of
robbers, and in Khorassan there has been an outbreak of highway robbery in the
vicinity of Meshed. In one case the loot included 600,000 rials intended for the
Soviet Consul-General.
Fars.
9. The Prime Minister’s note offering terms to Nasir Qashgai (see Summary
No. 4.2/£2, paragraph 11) has been delivered, but it is not yet known what effect it
had on Nasir. Meanwhile, the Government forces have made no further attempt
to interfere with the tribal migration, which is being protected by armed tribes
men. The attempt to disarm the Qashgai has been abandoned, and the tribes are
reaching their winter quarters unmolested. But the temptation to take advantage
of the passivity of the Persian forces has been too much for some of the tribesmen.
Russian lorries moving from Bushire to Shiraz were held up, the drivers robbed
and one Russian soldier was carried off with his rifle. The soldier has been
released, but his rifle remains with the tribe. Another hold-up occurred about
2 miles north of Shiraz, which resulted in a British officer, the engineer in charge
of the maintenance of that section of the road, receiving a gunshot wound in the
arm. Villages are also suffering.
10. There is considerable intrigue in political circles against any military
action being taken against the Qashgai. This is being instigated by anti-British
circles and is probably being encouraged by Axis agents. The influence of the
former, for what it is worth, will probably be used to persuade the Qashgai to
remain quiet for the present.
Khuzestan.
11. Two fairly serious robberies have recently occurred on the Behbehan-
Gach Saran road. The first, when twenty cases of household goods belonging to
a European member of the staff of the A.I.O.C. were carried off, appears to have
been normal brigandage, the robbers being alleged to be Boir Ahmadi tribesmen.
The second, where three European members of the A.I.O.C. were carried off into
the hills by unidentified assailants, appears to have been a put-up job instigated
possibly by the Rais ut Tujja, a local magnate who was recently arrested by order
of the Central Government on a charge of hoarding grain. It would be to his
interest to show that disorders occurred in the absence of his restraining influence.
12. These robberies occurred before the reinforcements of two battalions
mentioned in Summary No. 42/42, paragraph 13, had reached Behbehan. Their
special duty is to secure the Behbehan-Gach Saran area.