Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎363r] (725/749)

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reported to have offered to All Khan a monthly allowance of 30,000 rials. The
latter has not yet accepted this offer and would prefer a gift of land or, more
accurately speaking, the just restoration of lands previously his. The acceptance
of a monthly allowance, he feels, would brand him as Nasir’s paid servant and
diminish his prestige. It might also damage his reputation in the eyes of the
Persian Government if, in the event of any future misconduct on Nasir Khan’s
part, he was thought to be Nasir’s paid accomplice.
A j)y ointments.
0- (i) Muhammad Nariman, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, has been
appointed Mayor of Tehran in addition to his other duties. The
sudden dismissal of Ghulam Husein Ibtehaj (F.O. 89, M.A.117) is
believed to be due to pressure by the Russians with whom he was
highly unpopular on account of his firm attitude to Tudeh agitators,
(ii) Abul Qasim Kahalzadeh to be Director of the Propaganda Depart
ment. (There is no information as to the previous career of this
obscure individual.)
British Interests.
10. A statement in some Persian newspapers to the effect that large British
reinforcements had been landed in South Persia was officially denied in the Daily
News Bulletin. One newspaper came out with the fantastic story that several
British battleships had arrived in the Shatt el Arab.
11 . The British military authorities propose to hand over to the Persian
Government on varying dates between the 11 th and 22 nd December the
following :—
Kerman aerodrome, Kerman-Zahidan road, Zahidan-Mirjawa road,
Zahidan aerodrome, British military buildings in Zahidan.
12. The British Embassy courier van was stopped on its way to Tabriz on
the 4th December at Zenj an by a picket of Democrat rebels. The driver showed
his Russian pass but the picket insisted on examining the contents of the truck
and even demanded that he open the various packages. This the driver refused
to do but could not prevent the picket from entering the truck and seeing what
there was. The driver was obliged to drive to a garage while the rebels took a
decision. Eventually two Russian officers arrived and, after explanations by the
driver, they told the rebels that the truck should be allowed to proceed.
A merican Interests.
13. EMfounded rumours published in some Persian newspapers, to the effect
that large American military reinforcements had arrived in Tehran, produced
an official denial from the American Embassy. The rumour was probably caused
by the arrival of a draft of some 200 service personnel as guards for the American
camp at Amirabad to relieve a similar number of men due for discharge.
Russian Interests.
14^ About a week ago local Armenian newspapers published an announce
ment by Moscow Radio to the effect that the Council of National Representatives
in Moscow, in view of the numerous petitions received from Armenians resident
abroad, had acceded to the request of the Government of Soviet Armenia that the
gates of the Soviet Armenian Republic be thrown open to Armenians wishing to
immigrate. They would be granted free customs entry and advances of money
to build houses up to 50 per cent, of the cost. Since then small crowds of
Armenians have been seen daily outside the Soviet Consulate-General in Tehran.
In April 1945 some propaganda to the same effect by the Archimandrite of Julfa
(Isfahan) was reported in the Military Attache’s Intelligence Summary.
15. Reference paragraph 15 of Intelligence Summary No. 26, dated the
8 th July, 1945, the Under-Secretary for War gave the British Military Attache
some additional information about the losses incurred over the contract for
supplying the Russians with arms and ammunition from the arsenal. The revised
figures are as follows :—
(i) Deliveries to Russians.
41,950 Brno rifles at 910 rials each, though the cost price to the Persian
Government was 2,062 rials.
10,282 machine pistols at 710 rials each, though the cost price to the
Persian Government was 2,840 rials.
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