Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎325r] (649/807)

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OfHIS DOCUMENT
i *
C MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
0
PERSIA.
November 20. 1941.
19 41
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 2.
[E 7213/268/341
Copy No. 9 5
Sir Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received November 20.)
(No. 165. Confidential.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty s
Principal Secretary, of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 24 for the week ending the
22nd October, 1941, compiled by the military attache to this legation, oJU* 13*
Tehran, October 24, 1941.
Enclosure.
Intelligence Summary No. 24 for the W eek ending October 22, 1941.
Persian A ffairs.
The Government.
THE withdrawal of British and Russian troops from Tehran has been
greeted with almost universal relief on the part of the Persian Government and
people, though the former may have some regret that they can no longer plead
the strangling effect of the £ ‘ occupation ” as an excuse for inaction. Credit for
the withdrawal is largely given to the Germans for their successes in South
Russia.
2. Dissatisfaction with the present Government, however much its pro
gramme of reforms is approved, is growing, and, in spite of the respect and liking
he undoubtedly enjoys, there is much criticism of the Prime Minister as being
too weak and lacking in energy to handle the present very difficult situation.
There are many candidates for the post, but none seems to command any
considerable following. There appear to be fairly strong parties of the more
progressive elements in favour of Taqizadeh (Personalities, Foreign Office.
No. 210; Military Attache’s, No. 294), who is now in London, and Seyyid Zia
(Personalities, Foreign Office, No. 206; Military Attache’s, No. 286), who is now
in Palestine.
3. The task of the Government is by no means easy. The sudden collapse of
the despotic and highly centralised administration of Shah Reza and of the
prestige of the armed forces and the disintegration of the latter have resulted
in lawlessness throughout the country and indiscipline in all administrations.
Officials of the old regime, knowing that reforms may bring their dismissal, are
picking up what they can. On the other hand, suitable replacements are hard to
find. The course of the last twenty years has given no scope to officials who
combined energy with a measure of honesty and regard for constitutional practice.
Moreover, the Government is faced with a shortage of food-stuffs, a deficit in the
budget and the urgent need to raise salaries to a figure having closer relation to
the high cost of living.
4. The deficit in the budget is due to under-estimation of expenditure and
over-estimation of revenue, which will be aggravated by the loss of revenue arising
out of the present disorders. Nothing is at present coming in from the north,
which normally provides a disproportionately large share.
5 . The new Shah is now being regarded with much less disfavour and may
almost be said to be making a good impression.
Internal Situation. •
6 . The internal situation continues to be very disturbed. During the week
robberies have occurred on the roads and in villages around Shiraz. Bushire
[23—62]
RECn.POL.DCPr.
IQ DEC 941
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.