Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎60v] (120/749)

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including the Chiei of Police, his predecessor in the Military Governorship,
seveidl editors of newspapers and schoolmasters, and he is showing his usual
i uthless energy in dealing with anyone suspected of trying to disturb the peace.
Ihis cheerful scoundrel is much feared; he cares little for persons or laws and is
suspected by his countrymen of designs of following in the footsteps of Reza Shah.
He has a certain shrewdness, little education, no principles and considerable
, forcefulness.
h. Tl * 6 blame for originating the disturbances is now being laid variously
on the Prime Minister, the British and the Palace. Those interested in accusj^
the first-named are at present the most active. It is said that he instigated .xe
distuibailees rather than face the Majlis, as he was due to do on that day, and
that he staged the pillaging ol his own house to avert suspicion from himself.
6 . I he Government is publishing a Daily News Sheet, which is now the only
paper appearing. It has published proclamations by the Military Governor and
the 1 1 ime Minister in addition to home and foreign news. The Prime Minister
promises a rigorous enquiry into the origin of the recent disturbances and compen
sation to those who have suffered loss.
7. It is understood that the Prime Minister will reconstitute his Cabinet,
eliminating the more unpopular Ministers, and perhaps introducing some young
blood. The Shah appears to favour experiments with the younger generation and
3 na\ be thinking of posing as the leader of Young Persia. In his conception of
Young Persia young army officers probably play a considerable part.
8 . Allahyar Saleh, now delegate of the Persian Government in the United
States for economic affairs, has been recalled with a view to his beiim appointed
Minister of Finance.
Economic.
9. The Prime Minister has sent instructions to officials in the provinces to
the effect that, since the Allies have agreed to make good any real deficiency of
gram, there is no longer any necessity for provinces to retain more than a few
months’ reserves. The grain stocks of the country must be distributed with a view
to the needs of the country as a whole in such a way that no district will suffer
a present scarcity.
10 . Tehran nearly ran out of wheat, but the situation was saved by the
supply of 250 tons from British army stocks. A further 1,200 tons is now on its
way from the same source. The Russians are also now allowing small quantities
to come down from Northern Persia, having got the Persian Government’s
agreement to the supply to them of 18,000 tons of barley, 5,000 tons of wheat and
30.000 tons of rice. In Tehran, in order to eke out bread supplies, 20 tons of
cooked potatoes are being distributed to the poor daily at 2 rials per kilog.
11. The first 10,000 tons of the 25,000 tons of wheat promised by the Allies
under the Food Agreement is being shipped from Canada, but cannot arrive
before January. Meanwhile, possibly as a result of the announcement of these
impending arrivals, the price on the black market has dropped.
12 . The Council of Ministers has published a decree fixing the
18th December for the taking of the census preparatory to the issue of bread
ration cards for Tehran.
Currency.
13. The Russians have asked for an immediate credit of 500 million rials.
The Persian Government has not yet signed the financial agreement proposed bv
^38 the Russians (see Summary No. 46 /42. paragraph 5 h
A ppointments — Civil.
14—(i) Sarlashkar Muqaddam (M.A. 182) to be Governor-General of
Azerbaijan. The two existing Ustans of Eastern and Western Azerbaijan are to
be united under his governorship. J
(ii) feardar Akram Qaragozlu to be Governor of Hamadan.
jo 3
i-fe MU St,
Persian Forces.
15. Sartip Zahidi, Commander of the Isfahan Division, was arrested on the
7th DecemberRy British troops. It had for long been known that he was in touch
with German agents and that he was working against British policy. He had
been encouraging Nasir Qashgai to maintain his position among the Qashgai, is
strongly suspected of having assisted him with arms and ammunition, and was