Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎58v] (116/749)

2
At a press conference the Prime Minister stated that 1 he estimated that the ^
deficit of wheat before the next harvest would be 130,000 tons. This is reliably
considered to be a considerable over-estimate.
4. On the whole, the wheat situation shows little improvement. The
increase in the official buying price has not produced notably greater supplies.
The purchase of wheat on Government account is now being effected by special
agents of the Ministry of Food and no longer by officials of the Economic Depart^V
ment of the Ministry of Finance. In a few cases action has been taken against
hoarders. A warning has been published in the press that it is intended to apply
the Anti-Hoarding Law with full rigour. Mr. Timmerman, the American adviser
to the police, has been charged with the'application of the law.
5. Tehran has for some days had insufficient bread to feed its population.
Supplies of wheat expected from Shahrud have been detained by Russian troops
in spite of the transporting lorries having been provided with the form of pass
agreed upon with the Russian authorities. Bread rationing is to be introduced
on the 22nd December and a census for the purpose of issuing ration cards is to
take place during this week. This may ensure a more equitable distribution of
available supplies. The ration is to be 800 grammes for a working man,
200 grammes for a child, 400 grammes for others.
6. The American Adviser to the Ministry of Food at a recent press con
ference said that 65 per cent, of the needs of the Allied forces in food were
imported. Previously one of the principal causes of high prices had been
competition between contractors and agents buying for the British forces. This
had now been eliminated, as it had been agreed that British troops would
purchase their requirements through the Ministry of Food and its agencies. Onlv
food-stuffs surplus to the needs of the Persian nation would be bought. Prices
of food-stuffs had dropped 15 to 20 per cent, in the last ten days. He also
announced that anyone holding more than 5 tons of wheat would be treated as a
hoarder and that 20 per cent, of the value of discovered hoards would be paid
to the informer.
7. The Council of Ministers has issued a decree raising the wages of factory An East India Company trading post.
workers. The minimum wage is now to be double that of 1941, and factories must
supply staple commodities to workers and their dependants at the prices
prevailing before September 1941.
8. The Majlis has sanctioned a credit of 43 million rials to the Ministry of
Industry, Commerce and Mines to allow of increased prices being paid for
sugar-beet,
Air-Raid Precautions.
9. The Government has at last dared to call the attention of the public to
the need for air-raid precautions. In a statement to the press it is said that an
inter-departmental commission has for some time been studying the needs of the
situation and has drawn up certain regulations and instructions which will shortly
be communicated to the public.
Communications.
10. The press announces the inauguration on the 6th December of regular
air postal services between Persia and Russia. The frequency of these services
is not mentioned.
Persian Forces.
A p^ointments — Military.
11. —(i) Naib Sarhang Samadi to command the Mechanised Brigade vice
Sartip Baharmast.
(ii) Sartip Baharmast to be Director of Artillery Instruction.
Internal Security.
Pars.
12. There are no further developments as regards Nasir Qashgai. He is
now probably waiting to see if the Government will fall before deciding on his
future action. Meanwhile, plans are being made by the Persian General Staff
for operations against him by four columns, moving on Firuzabad from Jahrum
and Kavar, and on Farrashband from Kazarun and Far. Reinforcements of a
battalion each are to be sent from the Isfahan and Kerman Divisions. The
execution of these plans depends on the provision of transport, which is not at
present available from Persian sources.