Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎84r] (167/749)

Western A zerbaijan.
11 The Kurds are still opposing the establishment of gendarmerie posts in
w they regard as Kurdish territory. In one instance, after a fight had
occurred between Kurds and gendarmes, the Soviet Consul accompanied the
eisian commander and persuaded the Kurds to allow the establishment of
the post.
Fars.
12. General Shahbakhti sent a summons to Nasir Qashgai to come to
Shiraz, guaranteeing him safety and a fair hearing. Nasir has, as usual, played
tor time, asking for three weeks’ delay to allow him to consult other chiefs with
in he had sworn alliance. The Government’s instructions to General
Shahbakhti are that he is to commence operations for the occupation of
Frruzabad without further* parleying with Nasir. General Shahbakhti is,
however, still immobile for lack of transport for this operation and for the
protection of the 183 miles of road from Bushire to Shiraz. Meanwhile, Nasir
has again wired to certain members of the Government and the Majlis warning
them that all the tribes of Kuh-i-Galu and Fars were ready to rise to defend
themselves against the Government forces and that he was no longer able to hold
them back. 1 his created some alarm among those with property in Fars, but it
is believed that the Government was not persuaded to alter its policy. Of the
tribes specifically mentioned by Nasir as being on the point of rising, the
Mamassani are reliably reported to have sent messages signed by seven of their
khans representing the three sections to Shahbakhti to assure him of their
loyalty, and Hussein Quli Rustami, of the same tribe, who is to some extent an
outlaw, has also made overtures of submission.
Persian Baluchistan.
13. In the recent drive for collection of arms from lawless tribes in Mekran
about 450 rifles were confiscated, of which about half were -303 and German
Mausers and the remainder Martinis and muzzle-loaders.
Russian Affairs.
14. For some time past the Russians have been showing increasing dislike
of the presence of British and Americans in Azerbaijan. The Americans have
found much reluctance on the part of the Russians to allow American transport
organisations to operate in the Russian zone. The American representative in
Tabriz of the Ministry of Food, who during his stay there was not given even a
pretence of support by the Russians, has now had to leave, having been informed
that the period of his permit had expired.
15. His Majesty’s Consul-General at Tabriz reports that there is a
considerable and increasing congestion at the railway enclosure of supplies
brought to Tabriz by road for Russia, due apparently to lack of rail transport for
its onward journey. This congestion is likely to grow worse as conditions improve
on the road from Kazvin to Tabriz; they have latterly been so bad owing to heavy
snow as to limit to a considerable degree the flow of road transport. Supplies
are now also reaching Kazvin faster than the Russians can clear them, so that
an accumulation is piling up there also.
16. A Persian paper which is supported by the Soviet Embassy has recently
been making statements whose object appears to be to give credit to Russia at
the expense of Great Britain. For example, it challenged the suggestion made by
another paper that credit should be given to the B.B.C. for inspiring the present
alleged struggle between progressives and reactionaries. Again, in an article
suggesting that British and American post-war policy might lead to an extension
of the system of mandates to include countries like Persia, the paper expresses
relief that Soviet Russia is one of the signatories of the Tripartite Alliance, since
she had consistently shown good feeling towards the Persian people, and by her
actions of the past twenty-five years and through the speeches of Stalin had
convinced the Persian people of the Soviet’s concern for the independence of
Persia. These sentiments may not have been inspired by the Soviet Embassy;
their expression may be due merely to the editor's wish to earn his subsidy. This
paper frequently sympathises with Russia on the absence of a second front.
17. On the Zahidan-Meshed route the U.K.C.C. are now operating about
550 trucks and are capable of delivering at Meshed some 6,000 tons monthly for
Russia.