Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎68r] (135/749)

, v 1
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
PERSIA.
SECRET.
n
With the Comiplim
of thi
Uader* S©orota»y of Stat«
for Foreign (Affair^ g * g
rrx.'t ww »»*■■*>■
Q
vJ" /0/y
February 19, 1943.
w Section 1.
Copy No.
[E 1018/110/34]^
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—{Received February 19.)
(No. 26.) . ■ .
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. 3 for the period of the 13th to
the 20th January, 1943, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, January 20, 1943.
} C^
114
Enclosure.
C
W
R,
L'-» n
■Kir f.
(Secret.)
Military Attache’s Intelliaence Summary No. 3 for the Period January 13-20,
1943.
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THERE is as yet no noticeable change in the political situation, nor any
4Tk indication that the Prime MinistePhas increased his popularity. In the first
issues of the papers recently permitted to appear (see Summary No. 2, 1943,
§<xw*»n . paragraph 6) he was attacked for having suppressed the press. He has as yet
announced no changes in the Cabinet, although Mehdi Farrukh, the Minister of
Food, has resigned. The bread supply of the capital continues to absorb much
of the attention of the Government, and the mutual distrust between the Shah
and the Prime Minister is a further handicap on the conduct of business. A
recent report, however, says that after a lengthy conversation between the two,
relations have improved. It is to be feared that it is not likely to be anything
but an uneasy association for the Shah appears to have decided to adopt the
role of the apostle of social reform and the champion of the oppressed against
the class represented by the Prime Minister.
2. The Shah has again expressed his desire for a military alliance with
the Allies. He considers that if the country were committed to that extent
pro-Axis intrigue would to a large extent disappear and the morale of the army
would be greatly improved The declaration of war by Iraq is likely to increase
his enthusiasm for his idea. Public reactions to the Iraqi action are not yet
apparent. Some Persian officers consider that Iraq has stolen a march on Persia
and that Persia should not hesitate to follow the lead. The general public will,
however, probably feel that the German armies are still too close to Persia.
3. There has been much talk in Tehran recently among Persians of a
German attack on Turkey. It is being suggested that the Germans are deliberately
shortening their line in Russia with a view T to withdrawing troops for this
operation.
Economic.
4. It has been estimated, as reliably as available statistics will allow, that
about 66,00*0 tons of grain, in addition^ to the quantities now in Government
stores, are required to feed the country up to the next harvest. Of this, Great
Britain and America have undertaken to import 25,000 tons; 15,000 tons are
believed to be available from areas having a surplus, other than those in the
Russian zone, leaving a deficit of 26,000 tons. It is estimated that Azerbaijan
could provide 15,000 tons of wheat and the Caspian provinces 20,000 tons of rice if
tlhe Russians would allow its export and the Persian authorities were efficient
[38—68]
m I
Lx-o.
IN