Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎64r] (127/749)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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January 22, 1943.
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Section 1.
114
PERSIA. with the Compliments
of ths
SECRET. Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs v ^
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[E 459/110/34] a .4 FEB Q Copy No.
iSir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—{Received January 22, 1943.)
(No. 448.)
HIS. Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 52 of the 29th December, 1942,
compiled bv the military attache to this legation. . , _ f! *
Tehran, December 29, 1942.
Enclosure.
CejiC<j/: -
- L — fin.
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Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 52 for the ^period December 23 to 29,
1942.
(Secret.) ——*—*
Persian Affairs.
Political.
1. THE Prime Minister has maintained and perhaps slightly strengthened
his position. Certain Deputies are attempting to make their own inclusion in the
Cabinet a condition of the support of their followers. No changes in the Cabinet
have yet been announced other than the appointment of Sipahbod Amir Ahmadi
. to the Ministry for War (see_Summary No. 51/4g, paragraph 12 (iv)). One of
the Deputies has given notice^of his intention to interpellate the Government on
the matters of food supplies, the disorders of the 8th December, and certain other
questions. The interpellation is to be taken on the 29th December.
Press.
2. No paper except the Government News Sheet has been allowed to appear'
since the 8th December. An amendment to the existing Press Law was passed by
the Majlis which says that applicants for permission to publish papers must
satisfy the Supreme Educational Council of their financial resources and academic
and moral qualifications, so giving the Government the power to refuse a licence
to an undesirable person. The amendment also specifies particular punishments
for transgressions of the laws of libel.
Economic.
3. For the time being the bread supply of Tehran is assured. Imaddition to
1,500 tons of flour from British army reserves and 3,500 tons of wheat from Iraq,
now reaching Tehran in regular quantities, about 140 tons of wheat a day are
also arriving from other areas. But supplies from the north, in spite of Russian
promises of assistance, are uncertain. For example, a number of U.K.C.C. lorries
which had backloaded with wheat for the Persian Government from Tabriz, were
stopped by Russian troops at Mianeh and forced to unload. Supplies in sight
from local sources are likely to run out in 7-8 weeks’ time. Supplies from abroad
are unlikely, as at present scheduled, to arrive in sufficient quantities to provide
Tehran’s monthly requirements of 7,500 tons. Lack of transport continues to
handicap the collection of local supplies.
4. There is much discontent in Tehran with the smallness of the bread
ration—400 grammes—allowed for those not classified as workers, and in spite of
the Allies’ promises to make good the wheat deficit the public remains appre
hensive. With the object of preventing the illicit adulteration by the bakers of
wheat issued to them by Government it has been decided that all bread shall
be baked in a central bakery under municipal control and that bakers’ shops shall
be used for the retailing of bread only.
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