Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎49v] (98/749)

6. Increases in the prices of certain commodities are stated by the press to
have been as follows :—
In the past In the last
12 months. 3 weeks.
Per cent. Per cent.
Potatoes
Onions ..
Charcoal
Wood
Rice
Cheese
Beans
Lentils
500
600
300
300
270
600
85
150
45
80
44
7. The Majlis has sanctioned a loan by the National Bank to the Govern
ment of 500 million rials for the purchase of food-stuffs. In addition to cereals
it is the intention of the Government to purchase stocks of potatoes, peas, beans
and lentils to feed the poor in the event of bread shortage.
Currency.
8. The Soviet Ambassador has proposed to the Persian Government a
financial agreement similar to that in force between tJhe British and Persian
Governments, that is, the provision by the Persian Government of rials against
40 per cent, in gold and 60 per cent, in dollars at the fixed rate of exchange of
32 rials to the dollar.
Persian Forces.
• 9 ', Ridley, of the United States army, and two Staff officers have
arnved in Tehran as advisers to the Ministry of War. The scope of the dutv of
these officers has not yet been defined.
Appointments — Military.
Id-" - (i) ^artip Ali Chadar, to be Military Governor of Tehran
Sarlashkar Muqaddam (resigned).
(ii) Sarhang Issa Ashtudakh, to be director of the ammunition factory An East India Company trading post. .
vice
Pars.
Internal Security.
situat i 011 i^ Fars appears to be temporarily settling down, leaving
the Government m a weaker position than before as regards Nasir Gashgai and
the tribes^ Nasir s reply to the Prime Minister’s letter (see Su mmary N o^42/43
paragraph 11) is to the effect that he is a loyal Persian, that hTag^ees to ht7id
back the arms and equipment recently captured from Persian forces fsee Summary
-j—^ 4 -/4^ paragraph 8), and that he will send his mother and brother to Shiraz
but he declines the invitation to come in himself. The tribes have meanwhile
spread out over their winter quarters. It is probable that, provided the Qashgai
remam quiet the Government, absorbed in other problems, will be content to let
thmgs be Various influences are at work to persuade the Qashgai not to create
trouble at present that might provoke the British either to take action against
them themselves or to force the Government into action. They are to waft and
see what happens in the Caucasus. Meanwhile Nasir grows stronger. Certain
sub-tribes notably the Darashuri, who were little inclined to support him have
probabiy been driven into h.s oamp by the ill-timed action of the Persian foines
^HMsee Summary No 41/T2. paragraphs 8 and 9), and the Qashgai are now a more
united body than they have been for some time. There is little doubt that Nasir
is under the influence of pro-Axis and anti-British parties.
Azerbaijan.
12. The situation in Western Azerbaijan is giving the Ppr<dnn -f-
I much cause for anxiety Although it is likely that the object of recent Russian
dealings with the Kurds (s^Summary No. 40y42^par ag 4ph 7) was genuinelv
to produce more settled conditions, there seems to be little doubt that it has been