Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎173r] (345/749)

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April 7, 1944.
Section 1.
for FeroTin Xffafi§
Copy No.
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received 7th April.)
(No. 137.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 12 for the period of the 20th to the
26th March, 1944, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, 27th March, 1944.
Enclosure.
Military A ttache’s Intelligence Summary No. 12 for the period 2Qth to 2§th March,
1944.
(Secret.)
Persian Affairs.
A-/71 -
aj/.
Political.
1. THE new Prime Minister is having difficulties with the Majlis over the
composition of his Cabinet, in spite of the fact that the Deputies had assured
him that they would give him a free hand, expressing, however, the hope that he
would select his ministers from the young, progressive and honest. Sa’ed intended
to retain the Cabinet as it was, with the exception of Seyyid Mushin Sadr, the
Minister of Justice, and making a new appointment to the vacant Ministry of
Industry and Commerce. The Majlis, however, indicated that this did not fall
within their interpretation of a free hand, and the representatives of so-called
Majlis parties demand that more of the young and progressive should be repre
sented, but they have refrained from specifying the individuals who would meet
with their approval. The five days of the Noruz holidays postponed the issue.
Economic.
2. The absence of spring rains in large areas of the country is arousing
anxiety regarding the next harvest, with the inevitable result of a rise in prices
in the wholesale and free retail markets and an increase of hoarding and specula
tion. The immediate grain situation is satisfactory, some 300,000 tons of the
310,000 required to feed the towns until the next harvest having been collected.
But the latter figure includes no reserve, and the Government should have a reserve
of at least 50,000 tons. The prospects of collecting this amount are not good,
although there are still stocks of grain in the country. Of 18,000 tons expected
from Azerbaijan only 700 tons have as yet reached the capital.
Persian Forces.
A rmy.
3. Eight more American officers have arrived to join General Ridley’s
mission, making nineteen in all. A twentieth is expected. Five of them will be
posted to the Headquarters of Provincial Divisions, so that there will he one
American officer at each Divisional Headquarters.
A ppointments — military .—
4. Sarhang Himmat to command the 6th (Ears) Division vice Sarhang
Bahrami.
5. The following promotions have been announced :—
Army Sartips to be Sarlashkars—
REts.fW. 9. Abdul-Reza Afkhami (F.O. 2; M.A. 2), Commanding 7th (Kerman and
Mekran) Division.