Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎307v] (614/807)

4
There are only a small number of members of this party in Persia. All are
reported to be pro-British. World membership only about half a million.
3. Armenian Social Club.
Committee — flU'
Levon Tatevossian.
Arsen Ferahian : A.I.O.C.
Levon Vardanian: French teacher; teaches Crown Prince and his
brother.
—*— Khandjian : Tools and machinery, Naserieh.
Leon Movel: Electrical goods.
Norair Ohandjanian.
4. Armenian Church Committee.
Nerses Pezeshkian : In the Government employ; member of the Dashnak
party.
Arshak Ter Hagobian : Dashnak.
Norair Ohandjian : Dashnak.
Dr. Vartan Hovanessian : Dashnak.
5. Hanechakian (Socialist party). Very small.
General Notes.
1 . Armenians in Persia.
In Persia there is considerable dissension among the various scattered
Armenian communities living in that country with Persian nationality.
In Tehran the majority perhaps are pro-German and carry on organised
propaganda amongst themselves.
The labouring communities living at Julfa, near Isfahan, and in the villages
to the south-west, many of whom were formerly employed by the A.I.O.C., are
very divided and constantly quarrelling. Perhaps 50 per cent, of them are
Dashnaks, and, of these, many are pro-Russian. Few of them are pro-British,
though many of their children have been sent to Calcutta for education.
Practically all the Armenian communities in Persia are oppressed by the
Shah’s policy directed toward their non-employment, and many of them would
undoubtedly be a force to be seriously reckoned with in case of revolution. There
are, of course, elements employed by the A.I.O.C. upon whom that company could
probably count in case of emergency, especially those employed for, say, over
twenty years.
2. German Propaganda among Armenians.
The alleged new and intensive German propaganda with the object of
organising a body against the Soviet Government in the Caucasus, though it
includes doubtless any Armenians available, is also directed toward Russians,
either White, Pink or otherwise disaffected, but chiefly probably toward the
Azerbaijanis both in Persia and in the Caucasus. The object is the organisation
of a strong body near Baku, Batum and other points where the “ Scorched
Earth ” policy of Stalin would have the maximum effect against one of the main
German objectives of the war against Russia, viz., the oil resources of the
Caucasus. Many Azerbaijanis left the Caucasus after the revolution and, with
those living in Persia itself, form a large and formidable element, containing
amongst them numbers who hold important positions, and who are now promised
by the Germans restitution,of the estates, positions, and their establishment in
a" new Government of the country under the Axis. No doubt the natural leaning
of the Azerbaijanis towards the Turks is also being exploited to the full, and
there is evidence that Berlin is now very busy in assuming the championship of
the Caucasian Federation elements both in Germany, Turkey and Persia.