Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎250r] (499/749)

PERSIA.
[E 712/70/34]
Copy No. J 2!)
(No. 20.)
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received 31^ January.)
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. 3 for the period the 15th January
to 21st January, 1945, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, ^nd January, 1945.
Enclosure.
Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 3 for the Period
Voth to 21s£ January, 1945.
(Secret.)
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THE Government has been concerned mainly with consideration of the
measures that should be taken to replace the control of economic affairs exercised
by Dr. Millspaugh through his American assistants. Certain appointments,
detailed in paragraph 8 below, have been made supplanting the American heads
of departments by Persians. The Americans, it was hoped, would continue to
act in an advisory capacity. It is doubtful, however, whether any important
American will agree to serve on without some power of control. Dr. Millspaugh
has played into the hands of those who want to get rid of him altogether by
notifying the Prime Minister that, unless the present governor of the National
Bank is dismissed by the 23rd January, he will himself leave Persia. There was
never much chance that the Government would be willing or would dare to dismiss
the governor of the National Bank, a man who, whatever his faults, is honest
and exceptionally able; and it is believed that Dr. Millspaugh is already aware
of that, so he has presumably made up his mind to give up his work in Persia.
His arbitrary action has dealt a blow not only to his own supporters, the number
of whom has increased since he was relieved of control over economic affairs and
limited to his responsibilities for the finances, but also to those who, while
disapproving of Dr. Millspaugh personally, are convinced of the value to Persia
in the present political situation of an American mission with some financial
control. Dr. Millspaugh’s self-opinionated obstinacy has been of great assistance
to all the opponents of American interest in Persia, of the establishment of
stability and of economic and financial reforms.
2. There is growing discontent with the Prime Minister’s weakness and
ineffectiveness, and it has been increased by his choice of his own friends as
advisers to him on economic affairs and for lucrative employment in economic
administrations. It is only the lack of a suitable successor that keeps him in
power. Even that may not save him much longer.
3. Jealous to protect its honour against accusations made in the press to the
effect that Deputies take advantage of their position to gain benefits for them
selves, particularly in commercial transactions, the Majlis has passed a law
authorising the appointment of a commission of five members to be elected by the
Deputies to investigate any such charges made.
4. The Tudeh press has been making venomous attacks on Great Britain
and on British policy. It is repeated ad nauseam that after the last war Great
Britain had prepared Persia to be a “ springboard ” for hostile action against
Russia. Two papers suggest that Seyyid Zia, on behalf of his masters, is
organising a pseudo-Communist party who will create disturbances and bring
the Tudeh party into disrepute and give the Government an excuse for breaking
[62—34]
RfiSfi. F jL EEPT.
23 MAR'9^
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. !