Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎85r] (169/749)

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Sz?' R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received Avril 19.)
(No. .127.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 13 for the period of the 24th to
30th March, 1943, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, March 30, 1943. r rV/ £&
(Secret.)
Enclosure.
CkfuTet
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A.m.
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Military A ttache’s Intelligence Summary No. 13 for the Period
March 24 to 30, 1943.
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THE New Year holidays covered most of the last week, with the result that
there was little political activity. On the other hand, there was little of the
usual light-hearted festivity, and indeed the poor had little cause to be festive.
Unusually sustained heavy rain in Tehran had demolished a number of the mud
houses in the poor quarters of the town, oil was still scarce, bread none too
plentiful, and everything in the way of pleasures far beyond the reach of the
poor. The press took the opportunity to stress the hardships Persia was suffering
from Allied exploitation. The Shah and the Prime Minister broadcast to the
nation. The Shah confined himself to good wishes, pious hopes for the future,
an exhortation to be patriotic and brave, and an expression of his conviction that
the products of industry and agriculture should be more evenly divided. The
Prime Minister’s speech had more meat. He stressed that Persia could not hope
to escape some inevitable hardships of war or to preserve unchanged the
conditions of peace. Persia must be prepared to make sacrifices with her Allies,
and the individual to surrender some of his liberty, as all in the great democracies
had willingly submitted to severe restrictions. Agitators, hoarders, speculators
and all those trying to turn the conditions produced by the war to their personal
profit were enemies of the country. The well-being of Persia lay in strengthening
ties with Great Britain and Russia, and those who attempted to create discord
were acting against the interests of Persia. Persia, he claimed, had given great
assistance to the plans of the Allies, but she would not get the reward she had
earned unless she went the whole way in co-operation with the Allies. He was
now making plans to ensure food supplies, to reduce prices, prevent hoarding and
improve order and security. The broadcast should have a good effect on those
who believe that the Prime Minister is capable of sincerity.
Economic.
2. Grain has been reaching Tehran in sufficient quantities to maintain
minimum requirements of bread. During the first seven days of March the
amount of imported grain that reached Tehran was 687 tons of wheat, 48 of
barley and 14 of millet, and of local grain 219 tons of wheat and 31 of barley.
The bad condition of roads resulting from heavy rain and snow has seriously
affected collections of grain. Kermanshah had on the 26th March less than a
week’s supply and required 2,000 tons from other sources than its own to make
up the deficit till next harvest. In Shiraz the deficit is estimated at 2,500 tons.
3. Dr. Millspaugh has caused consternation by announcing that he intends
to balance his budget for the coming year. This will require both drastic cutting
down of expenditure and a heavy increase of taxation, as in the year now ended
expenditure greatly exceeded revenue, the deficit having been made up by
borrowing from the National Bank.
REGfi. POL. DlWrj 9 ]
1 2 MAY^V; I
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.
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