Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎85v] (170/749)

A py ointments — Civil.
4. Zain-ud-Abedin Rahnama (F.O. : 171; M.A. : 237) to Under-Secretary
of State in the Secretariat of the President of the Council.
Persian A rmy.
5. If Dr. Millspaugh has his way regarding the balancing of the budget^*
(see paragraph 3 above), General Ridley and Colonel Schwarzkopf will have to s
recast their schemes for the reorganisation of the army and the gendarmerie
Dr. Millspaugh is at present saying that the maximum provision that will be
available for the army is the sum sanctioned in the last budget, viz.,
700 million rials.
Internal Security.
Pars.
6. Action in Ears by General Shahbakhti still hangs fire owing to his lack
of transport. The delay not only adds to the difficulties of achieving a satis
factory An East India Company trading post. settlement, but is damaging to the already low' prestige of the
Government. British prestige is also now affected since it is now well known
that His Majesty's Legation has pressed for the elimination of Nasir. that
assistance was promised by British military authorities, and that a liaison officer
representing General Headquarters, Persia - and Iraq Force is in Shiraz, who the
people of Fars are beginning to say is there to endeavour to ensure that British
policy is carried out. The prolonged winter may have delayed the migration of
the tribes, but they are likely soon to be on the move and insecurity may increase.
7. Nasir Qashgai’s cousin, Amir Hussein Salar Afkham, whose father at
various times replaced Nasir’s father as Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Qashgai, is supporting
General Shahbakhti, and is using his influence to separate the sub-tribes from
Nasir. He recently told His Majesty’s Consul at Shiraz that the Kalantars of
the Darashuri had recently assured him that they disassociated themselves from
any activities against the Government and promised their support to Shahbakhti.
Salar Afkham’s family suffered considerably from the hands of Nasir’s father,
and they are very hostile to Nasir, as is his uncle AH Khan Salar Hishmat.
Dashti and Tangistan.
8. Dissensions have broken out among the khans of Dashti and Tangistan.
This is no unusual condition. It is not inopportune at the moment as it should
prevent any effective support of Nasir Qashgai.
Western Azerbaijan.
9. His Majesty’s Consul-General reports an incident that is probably the
same as that mentioned in Summary No. 12/43, paragraph 11. His information
is that a band of about 400 Shekak Kurds surrounded the village of Kahriz
intending to loot. The Soviet Consul accompanied some Persian officers to parley
with the Kurds, who argued that they were not Persian subjects.
Iraqi Affairs.
10. Abbas Ali Mehdi has arrived in Tehran as Iraqi Minister.
British Affairs.
11. Sir Ronald Storrs has been in Tehran on a visit.
Tehran, March 30, 1943.