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for Reza Shah; has dissolved the local committee at Shahravar for the same reason
and expelled another member for “ co-operation with reactionaries.”
5. As it becomes more apparent to Persians that the war will end not
merely in the defeat of Germany but in the complete destruction of German
power, their vision of the future is filled by a Russia, free of anxiety in the West
• and the East, and of unchallengeable supremacy in Central Asia. In Russia’s
; regard for her pledged word they have no confidence whatever. Of Russia’s
designs on the Northern Provinces they are convinced. Of the efficacy of British
■or American support they are doubtful. In Russian policy in Persian Azarbaijan
combined with Russian opposition to appointments or measures that might lead
to the strength of stability of the Central Government they see the resolve to
create a situation that will lead to the outbreak on the withdrawal of Russian
troops of a greater disorder than the Persian Government can remedy and an
appeal from tutored parties in Azarbaijan for Russian intervention. It is not
difficult to find evidence on which to base such a theory. What Russia may do
overshadows all other considerations in the minds of men of property and wealth.
Some such as Qavam es Sultaneh and General Muqaddam, lately Governor-
General of Azarbaijan, toady to the Russians; others are considering liquidating
their property with a view to transferring their capital abroad.
Economic.
6 . In reply to a question in the Majlis asking for information about the
Government’s negotiations with oil-concession hunters known to be in Tehran
the Prime Minister replied : In October and November 1943 two representatives
of the Shell Company arrived in Tehran with proposals for the grant of a con
cession in South-East Persia. They were followed in February 1944 by a repre
sentative of the Standard Oil Company with proposals for the same area and
about the same time the Sinclair Oil Company informed the Government that
they were also making proposals for a concession. To assist the Government in
studying these various proposals for a concession two American experts, Messrs.
Hoover and Curtis, were engaged as advisers and they were now in Tehran.
The leader of the Tudeti party in the Majlis protested against the engage
ment of Americans to advise on a question in which American oil companies
were interested.
A 'p'pointments — civil.
7. Muhsin Turbati to be Farmandar of Dasht-i-Mishan in Khuzeztan.
Persian Forces.
A rmy.
8 . The Minister for War has tabled tw T o Bills, one of which makes it now
a crime for an officer to draw pay for imaginary employees or to employ as his
servants more men paid from army sources than the regulations permit or to hire
out men paid from the army budget for his own profit; the other specified
punishments awardable to military personnel who use army transport for their
own profit.
Gendarmerie.
9. In an interview with the reporter of a Persian newspaper
Col. Schwarzkopf gave an outline of his ambitious scheme for the reorganisation
of the gendarmerie. He said that after a lengthy study of social, economic and
agricultural conditions his plans were now nearly ready to be put into execution.
I He did not mention that they require more than twice as much money as
Dr. Millspaugh is prepared to allot. He said he had already instituted schools
for officers and n.c.o.s. Asked what he had done to improve the morale tone of
the gendarmerie, Col. Schwarzkopf replied that only in rare cases was he able
to get definite evidence of corruption. He admitted that he had not yet succeeded
in "eliminating all theft, bribery and oppression, but he claimed that he had
reduced these crimes.
A f^pointments — military.
10 —(i) Sarhang Muhammed Reza Shahandeh to command the 19th (Kwash)
Brigade.
(ii) Sarhang Abdul Hussein Hijazi to be Military Governor of Tehran,
(iii) Staff Sarhang Abbas Hidayet to be Deputy Director of Army
Transport.