Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎56v] (112/749)

2
Notes in circulation—
March 1942 1,746,000,000
November 1942 nearly 3,000,000.000
5. The results of a census of population and animals in districts included
in the jurisdiction of the Governor of Tehran are given in an appendix.
Currency. £*■
6- A statement in Summary No. 47/42. paragraph 4, to the effect that the
new Currency Law had not restored public confidence in the rial requires
correction. The strength of the backing given to future issues of currency by
article 4 of that law has been realised by the public. As a result, the price of gold
in Tehran has dropped.
Persian Forces.
7. Much discussion is now going on in Persian military circles as to the
duties and powers that should be given to an American Military Mission should
Arnei ica agree to send one. It has been accepted that the head of the mission
would be assistant to the Minister for War and that orders regarding adminis
tration and organisation would be issued by the Ministry only with his approval.
The Shah and the Chief of the General Staff wish to limit the activities of the
mission to the Ministry for War, and in that they would have the support of all
coiiupt officers; but it is generally realised that no effective reforms would he
achieved unless the American Mission had the right to investigate administra
tion in units and formations and to insist on the dismissal of corrupt and
inefficient officers. The Shah is anxious to preserve unimpaired his personal
influence in, and his right of command over, the army. There is suspicion that
he is at present more concerned to foster attachment to his person than to
eliminate corruption.
Appointments — Military.
^my.—(i) Sarhang Muhammad Taqi Alp, formerly Chief of Staff to
Sipahbod Shahbakhte, to be Commander of the 9th (Ardebil) Brigade vice
Sarhang Jahanpulad.
Gendarmerie. (ii) Sarhang Muhammad Ghaffari to command No. 1
(Tehran) Gendarmerie District.
(iii) Sarhang Jawad Mir Fendereski to command No. 7 (Western) Gendar
merie District.
(iv) Sarhang Baqir Nikandesh to command No. 3 (Khorassan) Gendarmerie
District.
Internal Security.
A zerbaijan.
9. General Agevli, the head of the gendarmerie, has now returned from
Western Azerbaijan. He went there with Russian approval to investigate the
matter of placing gendarmerie posts along the frontier, mainly for the ^purpose
of preventing the smuggling of wheat into Turkey and Iraq. The Russians were
anxious to put an end to this traffic. General Agevli, however, considers that, in
view of the number of hostile and well-armed Kurds along the frontier, small
posts of gendaimeiie would be not merely ineffective, but likely to be overcome by
the Kurds, and that only a strong military force could cope with the situation.
His Majesty’s Consul-General in Azerbaijan considers that the Russians are
becoming less opposed to Persian military action against the Kurds, in whom
with the improved situation in the Caucasus, they appear to be losing interest'
It is unlikely that the Persian army will venture on the serious operations that
would be necessary for the disarmament of the Kurds.
Kerman shah.
10. General Shahbakhte says that he has given orders for the disarmament
of the Kalkhani tribe living in the vicinity of Kasr-i-Shirin-Karind.
Lure stan.
11. Since the beginning of November there have been repeated attempts to
ambush small parties of Indian troops patrolling the railway line between Dorud
and Mazu. These have occurred almost daily of late. The motive may be nothing-
more than an attempt to get rifles. The assailants are reported to belong to the
Papi tribe of Lurs. Strong representations have been made to the Persian
Government.
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