Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎172v] (344/749)

2
/"-N
against the Persian military operations for their disarmament (see Summary
No. 10/44, paragraph 6). He wanted Nasir's advice and to be assured of his
support. A British officer was visiting Nasir when this message was received,
and he reports that Nasir was greatly upset. He accused the British of
( instigating these operations as preliminary steps for the disarmament of the
tribes; he threatened danger to the oil-fields and fire and sword from Khuzestan
to Persian Baluchistan. There is, in fact, no present intention of attempting
to disarm the Taiyibi, but it is perhaps significant that the report that the Persian
forces had even the hardihood to venture to challenge these relatively weak
! tribes was sufficient to cause Nasir so much concern. He may not be so confident
of his position as recent reports have indicated.
Luristan.
8. By agreement between Persian and Iraq authorities, Bani Lam tribesmen,
suffering from a shortage of grazing in Iraq, were allowed to move their flocks
into the Pusht-i-Kuh area of Persian territory. Some clashes occurred with
Persian gendarmes who attempted to confiscate the rifles which the Arab tribes
had brought with them.
Western Azerbaijan.
9. The disturbances near Shahpur, referred to in Summary No. 9/44,
paragraph 15, were created by Shikak Kurds as a protest against the levy from
' * them of 800 sheep to be delivered to the Turkish authorities as compensation for
a recent sheep-stealing raid by Persian Kurds in Turkish territory. The Shikak
pleaded that they were not the culprits. They, however, obeyed the order of the
Soviet Consul to return to their homes.
Russian Affairs.
10. Further reports have been received which tend to confirm that
increases have recently been made in Russian garrisons in Khoi, Shahpur and
Bazirgan, on the Perso-Turkish frontier. Moreover, the Persian authorities
have been asked to deliver urgently additional quantities of barley, much of
which is being despatched to Khoi. If increases have taken place, they do not
necessarily have any particular significance. The Russians frequently change
their troops in Persia, and there are sometimes more, sometimes less. At the
present moment there is a tendency to attach undue significance to any reports
of Russian movements near the Turkish frontier.
American Affairs.
11. The Government has sanctioned the engagement of an American with
two assistants as expert advisers to the Tehran Municipality.
Tehran, Yitth March, 1944.