Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎326r] (651/807)

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16. The trend of recent military appointments has been to introduce a
better educated and less corrupt type of officer. These, if not always pro-German,
are greatly impressed by Germany’s military efficiency, and, having some degree
of patriotism, are resentful of the Anglo-Russian occupation. On the other hand.
^ most of them have the sense to see that in present circumstances it is best to
co-operate with the British.
Russian Affairs.
17. Reports from all provinces occupied by the Russians show that, on the
whole, the behaviour of officials and troops is correct but quite unhelpful to the
Persian authorities, so much so that some observers got the impression that the
Russian authorities were deliberately allowing the Persian Administration to
fall to pieces with a view to justifying them in putting in their own and
eventually annexing the provinces.
18. They have informed the Persian Government that they have no objec
tion to the rearming of police and gendarmerie, but they refuse to return any of
the rifles they have captured or confiscated.
19. There is still no evidence that the Russians are carrying on any
deliberately organised propaganda, but in the villages of Azerbaijan films are
shown of which the plot is nearly always the success of the peasant revolt in
Russia against cruel and greedy landlords. The Azerbaijani peasant needs little
incentive to rouse him against his own landlords.
20 . All construction work on roads, railways and buildings has been stopped
in the Russian area. Very little maintenance is being done on roads, and several
observers have noted that road and railway bridges are unguarded.
Russian Troops.
21. All Russian troops had withdrawn from Tehran by the 18th October.
They are to occupy, in addition to Azerbaijan, Kasvin. Resht, the southern shore
of the Caspian and Meshed. General Novikoff has moved his headquarters to
Tabriz.
22. It is reliably reported that some Russian troops have been withdrawn
from Persia to the Caucasus; one unconfirmed report says in considerable
numbers.
23. His Majesty’s Consul-General at Meshed estimates Russian troops there
to be about 1,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.
A viation.
24. Russian aircraft as under have recently been observed :—
At Meshed : 50 aircraft.
At Kasvin : 40-50 aircraft, mostly single-seaters.
At Pahlevi : 18 single-seater fighters.
Landing Grounds.
25. At Kasvin the landing ground south of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company
depot is being improved.
South of Resht along the Astara Road a new aerodrome is being constructed.
British Affairs.
26. The text of the proposed treaty of alliance with Persia has now been
presented to the Persian Government by the British Minister and the Soviet
Ambassador. The Persian reaction is likely to be that they do not improve their
present situation, but do put themselves in the very unpleasant position of being
a declared enemy of Germany. ^ ,
27. The 2nd Armoured Brigade withdrew from Tehran on the 18th October.
American Affairs.
28. Captain J. G. Ondrick has relieved Lieutenant-Colonel Tompkins as
United States Military Attache.