Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎241r] (481/749)

^4
1 1 oc
CHET
i) c ^CLTvftAiivJvy^* erf S^VoX^
0 + THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP H&3 BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT «^\)
f ^
^ ? <Q January 4, 1945.
Cor,' v Mentis - V. 0 :
IA.
w
SECRET.
, Section 1.
Under Snore*ary qf Staff «-^
for Foreign l '*’4 5 |
'frFEfi 1945
[E 70/70/34] ^ Copy No. 127
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—{Received \th January, 1945.)
(No. 478.)
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. 48 for the period the 11th December
to the 17th December, 1944, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, 18£A December, 1944.
Enclosure.
Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 48 for the Period
\lth-~\lth December, 1944.
(Secret.)
Political.
Persian Affairs.
BEFORE his departure Kavtaradzeh informed the Prime Minister that he
regarded the passing of Dr. Musaddiq’s Bill by the Majlis (see Summary
-No. 47/44, paragraph 1) as an act unfriendly to Russia and that its revision was
essential to the re-establishment of good relations between the Soviet and Persian
Governments. In an account of this interview published in a news-sheet in
1 ersian which is issued in Tehran by the Soviet Embassy it was added that
Ka\ taradzeh had told the Prime Minister that he realised that the law had been
passed as a result of pressure by enemies of Perso-Soviet friendship, such as
Sa ed and Seyyid Zia, and that such a law was inconsistent with the existence
of concessions already enjoyed by foreigners in Persia. The Prime Minister and
his Government have been considerably perturbed by the menacing attitude of
Kavtaradzeh, and they are in a mood to make concessions to placate the Russians.
These might take the form of asking them to provide the experts and the
machinery for the exploitation of the oil in the northern provinces by a so-called
Persian company.
, The Russians icalise that the opposition of the IVIajlis must be overcome,
and it is on that body that their attention is now concentrated. Bribes have been
offered to Deputies and, it is said, have been accepted by some. Others are beino-
intimidated by threats. Many are beginning to waver, and it cannot now be
assumed with any confidence that a majority would be found ready to oppose
proposals by the Government to give concessions to the Russians that would in
effect be tantamount to surrender. Faith in the courage of the Government has
been shaken by their failure to make any vigorous protest against the expulsion
from the northern provinces of officials and other Persians displeasino- to the
Russians or to recall the Governor-General of Eastern Azarbaijan for°sendino'
a clear telegram recommending the grant to the Russians of the concession thev
were demanding.
3. It seems dear that in the northern provinces the Russians are sueceedine
m intimidating all opposition. Some 150 workmen who refused to join the Tudeh
party have been expelled from factories in Gilan and Mazanderan Deputies
rTi m § _ t 1 he P rovinces occupied by Russian troops, although 'thev would
be the first to lose by the triumph of Russian designs, seem prepared to go to almost
any length to piopitiate the Russians in the vain hope of saving their estates
r r, 4 ' iJu* Pl T> e Minist f r has laid before th e Majlis a Bill for the abrogation
of Dr. Millspaugh s special economic powers and for the transfer of those powers
[61-49] ' /