Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎362v] (724/749)

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addressed to the people of the province. No mention of the autonomists was made
and he expressed his. readiness to enter into negotiations with representatives
of all classes and sfrata of the population. He admitted the urgent need for
reforms throughout Persia and, in particular, in Azerbaijan. He deprecated
attempts to secure these reforms by violence and murder. He stated that he had
instructed the police to maintain law and order and appealed to all Azerbaijanis
to co-operate in this task. According to reports received, the Democrats have so
far ignored Bayat’s approaches. Voting for the National Parliament ended on
the 2nd December. A Democrat paper has warned the Persian army that the
first shot fired by them will be the signal for battle betweeti the Democrats and
the army.
News from the various centres is as follows :—
Tabriz. —A police officer was murdered by the rebels outside his office
about a week ago and another was murdered on the 8 th December by five
Caucasians in civilian dress who subsequently fled to a Russian military
billet. The effect on the Tabriz garrison’s morale is said to be bad as the
officers feel that they will be slaughtered one by one while Russians look on
and render them powerless to resist. The Chief of the General Staff is of
the opinion that matters are coming to a head in Tabriz and that the rebels
wdll soon begin attacks on public buildings and the garrison in order to
present a fait accompli to the Moscow Conference when it meets.
Maragheh. —No accurate information but a report from the General-
Officer-Commanding Tabriz Division states that, after murdering the
governor, the rebels have left the town.
Astara and Caspian Coast .—No change.
Mianeh. —No change.
Zenjan .—The governor is reported to be a prisoner in the hands of the
rebels who are holding him as a hostage for two of their number who had
been arrested and removed to Tehran some weeks ago. The Democrat leader,
Dr. Jehanshadlu, has assumed the duties of governor and is issuing orders
in the town.
Tabriz-Zenjan Road. —No change but see paragraph 12 below.
Qazvin. —Ffom the Persian press and from another source comes the
news that the governor has succeeded in persuading the Tudeh pickets to
permit the passage to Tehran of food-stuffs in transit.
Miandoab .—No change.
Marand .—This place, about midway between Tabriz and Julfa is mwv
in rebel hands. They shot three prominent landlords.
Sarab. —Confirmation from tw^o sources has now been received of a report
heard as long as ten days ago to the effect that after the military garrison
of one platoon had been overpowered, disarmed and taken prisoner by the
rebels, two officers and twenty-one men of the gendarmerie were taken outside
the town and murdered in cold blood.
Shahin Dej (previously known as Sain Qaleh). —The rebels who hold
Bukan have mwv penetrated as far as this place which is some fifty miles
north-east of Saqqiz where there is a strong military garrison.
Babulsar in Mazanderan is reported as being in Tudeh hands, and in
Mazanderan and Gilan in general Tudeh activities have much increased. A
no rent campaign has been successfully launched among the peasants by the
Tudeh.
Kerej. The Russians have posted a strong picket on the main Tehran-
Kerej road about twenty miles west of Tehran.
In Tehran itself the town is quiet and the military forces are adequate
to deal with any outbreak unless the rioters are reinforced from outside On
the 8 th December four lorries, driven by Russian soldiers, deposited at a
Russian billet a total of about 100 Caucasians in civilian clothes
Isfahan.
7. The movement against Muiteza Quli Ivhan has flared up a^ain and
three Bakhtiari Khans of the rival faction have been trying to stir up trouble
in Chahar Mahal. A summons to return to Isfahan issued by the General-Officer-
Commanding Isfahan Division has, so far, prevented the trouble spreading.
t ars.
. have recently been made to compose the differences between
the Aasir Khan and An Khan branches of the Qashgai family. Nasir Khan
is