Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎94r] (187/749)

inefficiency. The responsibility for dealing with it lay with General Shahbakhti,
who was sulking and belittled its seriousness. The General Staff in Tehran
considered that the possibilities of troubles in Tehran prevented the despatch of
troops from the local garrison. Contradictory orders regarding the despatch of
reinforcements from other garrisons were sent by the General Staff and General
Shahbakhti. Meanwhile, the tribal forces have increased and the difficulties of
the Persian Government have increased.
12. From the evidence now available it seems that the initial movement was
instigated by Abul Qasim Bakhtiari. He has now withdrawn from active leader
ship and has recently stated to a reliable informant that his object was only to
make a gesture to prevent Persian troops interfering with the upward migration
of the tribes and that the further actions of the tribes were contrary to his wishes.
He is now again offering to come to terms with Government, but the terms are to
be his own.
Khuzestan.
13. Tp to the time when Persian forces had to be withdrawn from the
neighbourhood of the Meni Turuf, 250 rifles had been collected from this tribe.
Lure stan.
14. The Ministry for War states that 211 rifles have recently been collected
from the Papi and Piranvand tribes, and that another 590 rifles, which had been
handed over to Bakshdars and local officials, have also been withdrawn.
Russian Affairs.
15. The Soviet Press Bureau has announced that the Russian military
medical services in Persia have been instructed to assist the Persian health services
to the greatest possible extent in the prevention of the spread of epidemics. Ten
centres will be established at places in the Russian zone for the free vaccination and
inoculation, and four sanitary groups equipped with disinfectors and bath units
will be set up at Semnan, Sari, Gurgan and Meshed to deal with epidemics. A
further extension of this work is promised and a free supply of serums and
disinfectants on a liberal scale. This is the Russian counter-move to the opening
of a British military hospital to Persian typhus patients.
16. Another aspect of Russian methods in Persia is reported by His
Majesty’s Consul-General in Tabriz. The Russians have recently undertaken to
supply the Tabriz market with petrol and oils. They are also contracting for the
supply to them of leather from the local tanning factories and are offering 77 rials
per kilogramme, whereas the factory An East India Company trading post. cost of production is 84 rials per kilogramme.
The Russians have hinted plainly that, unless the contract is concluded at their
price, the factory An East India Company trading post. can expect no kerosine, gas-oil or petrol.
17. A report requiring confirmation has been received that the Russians are
constructing a landing ground in the vicinity of Fariman, 50 miles south by east
of Meshed. •
Tehran, 2§th A pril, 1943.