Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎100r] (199/749)

flJo
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS Bfel1S(NNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT (wp
PERSIA*
June 9, 1943
SECRET.
^ 3 5 D ;
4
Section 1.
IE 3321/110/34]
1 1 W ' w
Copy No. ^ >
Sir R. Billiard to Mr. Eden.—(Received Mb June.)
(No. 194.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his complimerits to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 20 for the period the 11 th to
17th May, 1943. compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran. XMh May, 1943.
Enclosure.
(Secret.)
Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 20 for the Period Wth to
Ylth May, 1943.
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THE Government successfully survived an interpellation in the Majlis
asking for a vote of confidence, which was given to it by 94 Deputies of 110
present. This, however, is not a true indication of the Government’s stability
or of the parliamentary support the Prime Minister enjoys. The interpellation
challenged the legality of the appointment of two Deputies, I’Tebar (see Summary
1 No. 12/43, paragraphs 1 and 6 ) and Bayat (see Summary No. 18/43, p aragraph 5),
iu*i» to ministerial posts, and also the right of the Government to transfer its authority
under article 5*of the Military Governor Law to the Minister for War and put
3o0 tt its own interpretation on article 8 of the same law (see Summary No. 17 43 ,
paragraph 1). The position of the Prime Minister is weak; there are dissensions
in the Cabinet, and it is, as usual, only the lack of an obvious successor that delays
the Prime Minister’s fall.
2. The Tudeh party has issued confidentially to its branches its election
manifesto and a list of forty candidates for election. Some of these are from the
intelligentsia, but the majority are men of little standing. The Tudeh party is
the only seriously organised political party in Persia. There can be no doubt
that it is inspired and assisted from Russian sources. The fear that it may have
a solid block of representatives in the next Parliament is very alive in political
circles, and there is some talk of the necessity for organising Opposition parties,
but it remains little more than talk.
3. Engineers in Government service have been on strike for some days for
increases of pay and better conditions. They have recently been joined by
professors of the university and some school-teachers. There is general unrest
and dissatisfaction among educated Government employees, all of whom are
underpaid.
4. The end of the African campaign has had on the whole a good press,
but has not materially improved Anglo-Persian relations. For the present the
progress of the war is of less interest to most Persians than their own internal
affairs.
Economic.
5. Dr. Millspaugh’s second monthly report to Parliament lays stress on the
critical financial situation of the country, on the heavy indebtedness of the Govern
ment to the National Bank, and on the necessity for ruthless reduction in
expenditure. He states that the estimated revenue, together with the maximum
amount that can be borrowed from the National Bank, which he puts at
[42—33]
. ** 4~J