Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎77v] (154/749)

Press.
6. The press is concerned mainly with the internal economic situation.
Strongly worded articles have appeared stressing the obligation of the Eritish
and the Americans to provide the wheat for whose deficiency, it is hinted or
sometimes plainly stated, they are to blame. Attacks continue to be made openly
on Mr. Sheridan, on the 'Road Transport Department, on its British adviser
and covertly on all American advisers.
Internal Security.
Pars.
7. General Shahbakhte has not yet taken any active measures against
Nasir Qashgai. He is awaiting the arrival of transport, which has been promised
by General Headquarters, Persia and Iraq Force, and further reinforcements.
Meanwhile, the main roads are undisturbed and the lawless elements of the
province are lying low. Nasir Qashgai has telegraphed to the Parliament to the
effect that in view of the guarantees that had been given to him he was at a
loss to understand the military preparations of which he had news and that he
would no longer accept any responsibility for the good behaviour of the Qashgai.
A strong effort is being made by Nasir’s friends in Tehran and in Pars to persuade
the new Government to stay Shahbakhte’s hand and to reopen conciliatory
negotiations with Nasir. Among these friends are landowners in Pars who have,
in return for their support, secured some immunity for their properties from
Qashgai depredations and who are doubtful whether any Government will last
long enough or be sufficiently determined in a consistent policy to establish
Government control throughout Pars.
8. Sixty-two Government rifles that had been issued by a previous
commander of the troops in Pars to the Baseri tribe of the Khamseh Federation
for their protection against the Qashgai have been recovered by the Persian forces.
Kuh-i-Galu.
9. A band of Boir Ahmadi brigands have during the past month been
active in the Gach Saran-Behbehan road Travellers have been held up,
gendarmerie posts attacked and villages looted.
Khorassan.
10. Some anxiety is felt regarding the security of the Zahidan-Meshed road,
as it is developed for the transport of supplies to Russia. The convoys on this
road will be a tempting bait for raiders from Afghanistan, who are unlikely to
be restrained by Afghan officials. The Persian security forces are handicapped
by lack of mobility.
Western, Azerbaijan.
11. That the substitution of Kurdish autonomy for Persian Government
administration is not always an unmixed blessing is shown by conditions in
Mahabad. When Persian administration broke down in Western Azerbaijan at
the time of the Russian invasion and Persian forces disintegrated, the inhabitants
donned Kurdish dress and openly rejoiced in their imagined liberty. To-day
they are in sorry plight. Trade conditions, already bad, have been aggravated
by insecurity, while prices of food-stuffs are very high because considerable
quantities have been sold over the western border. His Majesty’s Consul-General
in Azerbaijan considers that a moderate display of statesmanship by the Persian
Government would win back to loyalty a number of the inhabitants more
interested in security than in the profits of insecurity.
Russian Affairs.
12. Professor Pavlovsky’s expedition (see Su mmary No. 2/4 3, paragraph 19)
to South-West Persia has now returned to Tehran. It was accompanied through
out by a British officer. It engaged in no objectionable activities, but the members
showed interest in a wide range of subjects, social, economic and topographical.
13. During the first half of February 1,357 tons of supplies for Russia were
carried over the Zahidan-Meshed route.
14. From both Meshed and Tabriz come reports of a slight deterioration in
the previous very high standard of discipline of Russian troops that had
contributed much to the respect that was beginning to be felt by all except the
upper classes for the Russian system.
Tehran, March 2, 1943.