Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎114v] (228/749)

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Internal Security.
Fars.
7. A serious encounter has taken place between a mixed force of Qashgai,
Boir Ahmadi and Bakhtiari and the Persian garrison at Semirum, 20 miles
south-west of Yazd-i-Khast, also known as Semirum. The Persian troops, who
numbered about 500, are reported to have been routed and to have lost all
their arms. ^
Otherwise there are no material changes. The Qashgai tribes are reported
to be taking heavy toll of grain and sheep from the villages in the neighbourhood
of their summer quarters and to have robbed a number of sheep from the Baseri
tribe of the Khamseh confederation, the only tribe of that confederation that had
given any support to Nasir.
Nasir is reported to be south of Firuzabad with a band of 200-300, and
Shahbakhti has reported to the Ministry for War that he hopes to bring him to
bay. A column bas been sent in his direction. An unconfirmed report says that
Nasir and his brother Khosrow have separated and that Nasir is trying to get to
Boir Ahmadi country. Nasir, or more probably some of his friends in Tehran,
has distributed leaflets calling on true patriots to stop the killing of innocent
Persians that was resulting from the obedience of traitors to the policy of
.foreigners. The Turkish Ambassador, who has for some time shown interest in
the Qashgai question, considers that the tribe, being of Turki origin, should
be allowed to migrate to Turkey. It is doubtful whether such a suggestion will
commend itself to many Qashgais.
Khorassan.
8 . The fighting between rival sections of the Zafaranlu Kurds of Khorassan,
reported in Summary No. 25/43, paragraph 14, developed into serious disorder
near Shirwan. The local Persian gendarmerie was too weak to restore order and
the Russians were reluctant to allow the despatch of reinforcements, but finally
agreed to the despatch of a small column of troops. At the time of Soulat es
Sultaneh's rebellion in Khorassan in the spring (see Summaries Nos. 6/42,
paragraph 13, and 8/42, paragraph 7) the section of these Kurds under
FarajulLah Beg rose in sympathy, and the present disturbance is said to be due
to no punishment having been imposed on them when the rebellion collapsed.
Russian Affairs.
9. The Government of India Baluchistan Intelligence Bureau reports that
a reconnaissance party of five Russian officers arrived in Zahidan on the
7th June from Kabul via Seistan and went on to Khwash. The object of this
party was said to be to collect information about troop dispositions, communica
tions, landing grounds and supplies.
10. The Soviet Embassy has not yet replied to the request for information
regarding the move southwards of Russian troops reported in Summary No. 26/43,
paragraph 18. According to information that has reached the Persian Ministry
for War the strength of the troops at Mahabad is one regiment of cavalry with
a detachment at Bokan. Patrols are said to have been sent out towards the Iraq
frontier to warn Kurdish tribes that any transport of supplies to Iraq will be
prevented by the Russians.
Greek Affairs.
11 . Prince and Princess Peter of Greece, who have been staying in Persia
for some weeks, left Tehran for Palestine on the 31st June. /
Tehran, 5th July, 1943.