Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎210r] (419/749)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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August 31, 1944.
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Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received 31^^
(No. 331.)
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. 32 for the period of the 14th to
the 20th August, 1944, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, 2\st August, 1944.
Enclosure.
Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 32 for the 'period
14/A to 20/A Auaust. 1944.
Persian Affairs.
Political.
1 . The interpellation of the Government has been postponed until next
week, the Deputies having been unable to make up their minds as to what they
want in the way of a Cabinet. They wished the Prime Minister to reconstitute
the Cabinet before the interpellation, but he prefers to wait and see if he will be
given a vote of confidence.
2. Yet another political party has been formed, the “ Kar,” under the
leadership of Dr. Musharraf Nafisi (F.O. 154, M.A. 190). It published the usual
admirable programme with perhaps less than the usual insincerity, for Dr. Nafisi,
although unpopular on account of his blunt, ungracious manner, is genuine in
his desire for better things. He believes, and includes it in his party programme,
\ that Persia should be administered by Persians for the benefit of Persians. He
disagrees strongly with some of Dr. Millspaugh s measures. The first issue oi
the party newspaper, Pand, enquires why the Allies should keep so many troops
in Persia, especially in places like Khorassan which are very remotely concerned
with the war.
3. The matter of Dr. Millspaugh’s remarks published in the Sitara, to
which reference was made in Summary No. 31/44, paragraph 3, has been raised
\in the Majlis. Strong exception was taken to Dr. Millspaugh’s claim to be the
defender of Persian independence against Persia’s allies. The Prime Minister
was asked what action was being taken by the Government since the Government
was responsible for public statements made by its employees, of whom
Dr. Millspaugh was one.
4 . The meeting between the three potentates of South Persia, referred to
in paragraph 8 below, attracted some attention in the press, meeting with the
approval of some newspapers and provoking others to suggestions that it was a
dangerous plot against the independence of Persia organised by foreigners.
There is some anxiety lest the Russians, believing the agreement between the
Southern tribes to be a British move, may attempt to form a similar union, under
their influence, among the tribes of Azerbaijan. The Shah is suspicious that
unity in the south may not be in his ultimate interest.
Economic.
5 . The Cabinet has approved the formation of a Supreme Economic Council
to act in an advisory capacity to the Government. It will be composed of twenty-
four members, of whom eighteen will be nominated for a period of three years
by a decree of the Cabinet on the proposal of the Prime Minister and six will be
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