Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎303v] (606/749)

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7. A number of conscript officers have been released from the army before
the end of their full period of compulsory service in order to effect economy in
army expenditure.
Gendarmerie.
8 . Headquarters of districts have now been abolished in the gendarmerie
except in Ears and Azarbaijan, and regiments will in future be under the direct
command of central gendarmerie headquarters in Tehran. This is likely to
handicap co-operation between the civil and military authorities in the provinces
on the one hand and the gendarmerie on the other. Previously the district
commander, whose command extended over the province, was located at the
provincial capital in close contact with the Governor-General and with divisional
headquarters. There is in any case little co-operation and much antagonism
between the army and the gendarmerie.
9. Colonel Schwarskopf, American adviser to the gendarmerie, who has
been for the past months in America, has retrned to Tehran. He informed
the Persian press that the purpose of his journey was to obtain supplies for
the Persian gendarmerie and that he had been successful.
Internal Security.
Fars and Kuhigalu.
10 . Later reports indicate that Muhammad Ali Liravi’s outburst against
Fathullah Hiatdaudi’s properties near Liravi (see Summary No. 26/45, para
graph 9) is not so serious as to be likely to require the intervention of troops.
Although there have been a few casualties, the dispute seems susceptible of
settlement by negotiation. Nasir Qashgai, fortified by the encouragement of
Qavam-ul-Mulk, has arrived in Tehran to make, it is hoped, his peace with
the Shah and the general staff.
Southern Kurdistan.
11 . It is reported that the column of Persian troops operating in southern
Kurdistan to which reference was made in Summary No. 25/45, paragraph 6 ,
met with some opposition before it succeeded in entering Rezab and that both
sides suffered casualties.
Hamadan.
12 . Tudeh demonstrations in Hamadan during the first fortnight in July
have led to conflicts with the police resulting in injuries to both sides and the.
arrest of Tudeh leaders.
Russian Affairs.
13. Reports, not yet fully confirmed, say that the control of affairs in
Gilan and Mazanderan is passing into the hands of Tudeh committees or Soviets.
Azarbaijan the process of substituting Russian control, whether exercised
direct or through the Tudeh party, for Persian continues steadily. Some
landlords of Maragheh were prevented from visiting their estates by a party of
rudeh toughs. Two Shahsevan chiefs (see Summary No. 25/45 paragraph 4 )
are still detained in Tabriz by the Russians and the Persian subjects accused
oi assault on some Russian civilians are still in Russian custody. The Irano-
Soviet Cultural Society has now monopolised the whole of the municipal garden
m Tabriz. The Persian forces are immobilised in their barracks The Kurds
of western Azarbaijan snap their fingers at the Persian authorities. The
ted flag, hoisted by the Kurds at Mahabad on VE-day, flew for three weeks
1 . - 1 K - T r. e ^ aC u tS f j; om t he Persi an press, which may safely be assumed to
have been dictated by the Russians, are attached to this summary The first
discusses the Russian attitude to Turkey. The second discusses British policv
in the Middle, or rather Near East. The Russian-inspired Persian press has
been publishing increasingly violent anti-British articles. Great Britain is
accused of opposing all movements of freedom and progress and of deliberatelv
weakening small Powers so that British imperialism may be’dominant ' ^
!5. The Soviet Consul-General in Khuzistan has recently made an extended
tour of east Persia, visiting Tabas, Yazd, Kerman, Zahedan/Mirjawa Zabul and
Birjand. Photographs were taken of the airfields constructed by the British
which are of much interest to the Russians. ^ ’
16 _ ^ e P° r u ts continue to be received of an increase of Russian troops on the
Perso-Turkish border and of the construction of defences, but they have not yet