Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎69r] (137/749)

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u e ^ 10 . of transport has not been solved, as the Persian War Office has
none available^ His instructions from the Government are understood to be that
e is to bring Nasir Qashgai to heel by force if necessary. It is probable that he
wi be given control of security measures affecting the Bakhtiari and Kuhgalu
tribes as well as those of Pars.
Isfahan.
^ som ® un easiness among the Bakhtiari; Abdul Qasim, <3ne of
ivy 6 16fs P^ ace( ^ unofficial authority by General Zahidi (see Summary
( 11 P ara ^ ra P^ H)’ Pu 8 taken fright at the latter’s arrest and with his
aimed following has gone to the Janeki country, refusing all invitations, although
accompanied by assurances of immunity, to visit the Governor-General at Isfahan.
It is rumoured that he intends to create trouble. The other of General Zahidi’s
puppet khans, Manuchir, is now in Isfahan.
Kuh-i-Galu.
13. The Kuhgalu chiefs (see Summary No. 12/42, paragraph 16) have
recently been attempting to take out insurances. Abdullah Zarghampur, of the
Boir Ahmadi, has sent his stepbrother to Behbehan; Farajullah, of the Bahmai,
has been making advances to British authorities; Malik Mansur, of Basht, son
of Bibi Khanum, chieftainess of the Bavir, and a representative of Hussein Quli,
of the Rustam section of the Mamassani, have been to Shiraz to assure His
Majesty’s Consul of their desire to serve the British cause. The Bavir profess to
be in fear of hostile action against them by the Boir Ahmadi and the Qashquli.
Khuzestan.
14. A Persian force has moved out against the Arabs (see Summary
No. 48/42, paragraph 12), and the officer commanding in Khuzestan, Colonel
Humayun, summoned the sheikhs of some half a dozen tribes and demanded the
surrender of their arms. The sheikhs promised to hand them over by the
17th January.
Kermanshah.
15. The driver of an empty U.K.C.C. lorry was shot dead in daylight
between Kerind and Qasr-i-Shirin some days ago. Details have not yet been
received. As was inevitable, it is now being suggested that this incident was put
up by General Shahbakhte to demonstrate that security in this province
deteriorated with his withdrawal. That may be the explanation. If so, other
disturbances may be expected.
Kerman.
16. His Majesty’s Consul reports that the Bandar Abbas-Kerman road is
insecure and that numerous robberies have occurred. These appear to be genuine
robberies for the sake of loot and to have no political significance. Hussein Khan
Buchakchi, against whom operations were begun in September 1942 (see Summary
No. 36/42, paragraph 18) which led to no result, and who is reported to have
harboured Germans for a time, has been quiet of late.
Azerbaijan.
17. The Persian War Office has a report, as yet unconfirmed from other
sources, that the Jalali Kurds are threatening to loot Maku.
Khorassan.
18. An increase of raiding from Afghanistan is expected to result from the
poverty and lack of food prevailing in Western Afghanistan. Several raids have
already been reported.
Russian Affairs.
Anglo-Russian Relations.
19. Soviet officials continue to show curiosity and suspicion about American
and British activities in Persia. The Soviet Military Attache recently asked a
number of questions about road and aerodrome construction by the British
military authorities and about British troop movements in East Persia, and
seemed sceptical when informed that they were all connected with the improve
ment of the supply routes to Russia and of British communications necessary to