Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎83v] (166/749)

The value of imports from Allied countries
October 1941 to September 1942 was : —
(excluding Russia) for the year
Rials.
Cereals
Sugar
Tea
Piece-goods
Tyres
Motor vehicles .
67,679,000
161.229,000
188.378,000
92,569.000
54,308,000
10,461,000
Total 692,636,000
The debate on the Bill gave rise to some criticism of the level at which the
rial-sterling exchange had been fixed. Comparison with the more onerous terms
of the draft Russo-Persian Financial Agreement, which had been debated in
secret session a few days previously, has probably induced a greater readiness to
accept the British Agreement.
3. A Bill has been laid before the Majlis to authorise the issue of tax-free
Treasury bonds to the limit of 500 million rials. It is understood that these are
to he short-term bonds, though neither the term nor the interest has yet been
settled. The same Bill proposes to authorise the increase of the amount of coinage
of low denomination now in circulation from 54^ million rials to 75 million rials.
4. An accident on the railway which held up traffic for a few days nearly
produced another bread crisis in Tehran, which had been living to a large extent
on the wheat arriving daily by rail from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . In Kermanshah
conditions have slightly improved. Tabriz had been reduced on the 10th March
to a reserve of two days’ supply, but there is ample wheat in the province, which
is being prevented from reaching Tabriz partly by difficulties of transport and
partly by intrigues to discredit the American representative of the Ministry of
Food and to force the Government to purchase on the black market. Unusually
good rains, which have been fairly widespread, have raised hopes of a good
harvest, but this has not yet had much noticeable effect on the amount of wheat
offered for sale.
Press.
5. The press continues its attacks on Great Britain and its incitement of
the poor. Two papers have been suppressed, and it is probable that this will have
the effect of modifying the virulence of the remainder.
Appointments — Civil.
6. Ahmad I’tebar. Deputy for Burujird, to be Minister of Agriculture.
Persian Army.
7. The Majlis has sanctioned orders being placed in America for equipment
for the army up to a limit of 2,100,000 dollars, and for the gendarmerie up to a
limit of 2,400,000 dollars. This is to cover equipment recommended as necessary
by the American advisers to the army and the gendarmerie. The principal items
for the army are motor transport, tyres and spares, signalling equipment,
medical, veterinary, engineering and office stores, clothing and equipment; and
for the gendarmerie motor transport, motor cycles, signalling equipment, clothing
and equipment.
8. The Military Service Bill (see Sum mary No. 27/42 paragraph 5) has
been passed by the Majlis after much deliberation ancTargument. The final text
is not yet available.
A ppointments — Military.
9. Sarhang Faridunfar to be Commander of the Gendarmerie in Khorassan.
7 .. Internal Security.
Azerbaijan. J
10. A demonstration against high prices and the alleged shortage of bread
was made recently at the offices of the Governor-General in Tabriz. There is
ground for suspicion that it was staged by the Governor-General himself with the
object of discrediting the American representative of the Ministry of Food and
of getting permission from the Government to undertake himself the feeding of
the town by purchases on the black market to the benefit of himself and his
brother-landlords.