Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎300v] (600/807)

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4. British Interests.
(i) The Government of India have signed a contract with the Imperial
Iranian Government for the purchase of all salt available on the island of
Hormuz. This measure has forestalled Japanese plans for the exploitation of
this island. ^
(ii) The Acting Minister of Finance has informed the commercial secretary
to His Majesty’s Legation that the Imperial Government would like to purchase
many things in India, including guns, machine guns and ammunition. It is
known that some of the articles specified cannot be spared, and one or two, e.g.,
raw hides, cannot be supplied without benefiting Germany, but consideration of
the proposals can do no harm. His Majesty’s Legation have therefore suggested
to India that the business man whom it is proposed to send to Tehran to investi
gate the possibilities of trade between India and Iran should be sent soon.
5. German Interests.
(i) The Polish Minister recently learned from a source who claimed to have
obtained the information from General Nakhchevan, Acting Minister of War,
that German agents had recently been taking photographs and obtaining other
details of air-fields of Iran, particularly in South Iran and Khuzistan.
(ii) The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs declares ( 1 ) that the enemy
vessels at Bandar Shahpur are not sending out wireless messages : the wireless
sets on board are still sealed, and careful listening has detected no transmission;
( 2 ) that an open and careful search has discovered no explosives or other
preparations for sabotage.
6 . Norwegian Interests.
Reference Intelligence Summary No. 11, paragraph 6 (i) and (ii). All the
Norwegian volunteers have now been despatched by returning transports to
Bombay.
7. Iraqi Interests.
On the 3rd June a large number of Iraqi refugees, including Rashid Ali,
the “ Golden Four,’' the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem and other notables—the names
of some of whom are given below—arrived by car in Tehran. Most of the cars
were without numbers and were brand new. The refugees took up residence in
various hotels of the city pending arrangements for other accommodation.
Rashid Ali got into touch with the German and Italian Legations. After a few
days the Imperial Government informed the leaders that they must live in houses,
not in hotels, and must refrain from political activities.
The following are some of the notables who have arrived recently :—
Amin Zakki, Commander-in-chief.
Baud Saadi, Minister of Justice.
Yunus Sabbawi.
Hussein-ed-din, Major.
Hussein, Lieutenant of S.S. Police.
Abdul Jubbar, Lieutenant.
Salahuddin, General.
8 . U.S.S.R. Interests.
On the 8 th June his Excellency the Soviet Ambassador. Filomonov, to the
Imperial Government of Iran since September 1939, who has been recalled, was
received in a special farewell audience at the Palace of Saadabad by H.I.M. the
Shah. The departure of his successor, M. Smirnoff, has been repeatedly postponed.
H. J. UNDERWOOD, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Militai'y A ttache.
Tehran, June 14, 1941.