Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎80r] (159/749)

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more plentiful, and it i r hoped that the really critical period (J/J
is now over. There is, however, as yet no reserve in Tehran
and in the provincial towns the position remains precarious. A
fairly serious bread riot broke out in Khorramabad which had to be
quelled by military action, and economic conditions in parts of
hermanshah 1 rovince anr? in Lurestan are reported to be so bad
as likely to lead to disorder.
6. ^ A British broadcast to clarify the position as regards
Allx >as: istance to Persia in the matter of cereals met with
stro "criticism in the Tress and caused some alarm to the
public^t It was interpreted as meaning that such assistance was
still conditional and should not be taken for granted and resulted
in some buying up of stocks of foo stuffs. A later statement has
done something to reassure public opinion.
7. The Government has issued a Decree making forward buying
of certain foodstuffs an offence. The commodities specified are
wheat, barley, rice, potatoes, d ter, peas, beans. Forward
transactions completed before the date of the Decree are to be
cancelled.
8. The Government has laid a dill before the ?. ajlis the
purpose of which is to give to Dr. Uiispaugh extensive powers
to control prices and the distribution of commodities other
than foodstuffs. The dill proposes to s notion 5 million rials
for the expenses of the necessary administration and a credit of
10 million rials for the purchase of commodities to be retailed
by Government organisations. Dr. Dillspaugh is to be authorised
to engage nine Americans for the price-control administration.
Press.
9.
Britain's
Treaty of
existence
continues to ounlish strong criticism of Great
The press ■■■I
practi al interpretation of the undertaking in the
Alliance that the Allies would safeguard the economic
oi the Iranian people. Some of the articles are
distinctly objectionable in tone. A letter addressed to tne
Soviet Ambassador and H.M. Minister accusing them of having
secured by unlawful pressure and interference the suppression
3 f a certain paper was published in the press. At tne same
tine articles eulogising Russia have appeared. One of these
°xr.r* : sons appreciation of the pood treatment, good manners
and respect shown to Persians of all classes by Russians in
Persia and compares the comfort and ease assured to Persians
in the Russian zone as regards food sup.lies with the iamine
prevailing in other parts of the country. T t concludes: M All
can now see the difference between Russians and others".
10. The Government realises that the unlimited freedom now
being enjoyed by the Press might eventually be a langer to
itself but fears to take action. It is considering charging
the Minister for War, Mipahbod Amir Ahmadi, with the additional
responsibility of the- Military Governorship of ’ehran, hoping
that the enmity that would be aroused by the repressive
Tieasures he would probably take w^uld be concentrated on him.
/