Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎331r] (661/807)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS B^jTANNIC MAJttS TY ^ GOVERNMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
Section 1.
[E 8056/268/34]
Copy No. Q 3
Tehran, November 12, 1941.
q/x^nJL-
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received December 6 .)
(No. 182. Secret.)
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. 26 for the period the 30th October
to the 10th November, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
oJLa©
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Enclosure.
Intelligence Summary No. 26 for the Period October 30 to November IO-^mJc'I 0
—- ^
(Secret.) i
Persian A ffairs. ^ | o
Political. 63
THE draft treaty has engaged the attention of all political circles. It has
been studied by a commission of leaders of parties in the Parliament, where it
created no small dismay and was severely criticised. In spite of this, the Prime
Minister considers that he has secured the agreement of party leaders in principle.
Certain suggested amendments have now been presented by the Cabinet to the
British and Russian diplomatic representatives.
2. The 12 th session of the Parliament closed on the 30th October. The
13th session will be opened by the Shah on the 13th November. Commenting
on the record of the 12 th session, the press says that, except for the last few
weeks of its life, it was nothing more than an institution for the registration
of the decrees of the Shah, often against its will and always without criticism.
3. Fairly reliable information from more than one source says that
pro-German sentiments are spreading among the common people. These arise
from dislike of the Russians, disappointment that British intervention in Persia
has not brought an improvement in conditions, the belief that things can’t be
much worse and that the arrival of the Germans may make them better.
Pro-German word-of-mouth propaganda is said to reach the villages, while
British propaganda does not. On the other hand, since the British are blamed
for shortage of food, high prices and the prevailing disorder, and are consequently
increasingly unpopular, pro-German propaganda has a favourable atmosphere in
which to work.
Economic.
4. Sugar has been rationed in Tehran and certain other towns of Persia.
The price has been raised by 1 rial per kilogramme of soft sugar, and 1 J rials
per kilogramme of loaf sugar.
5 . The price of tobacco, which is a Government monopoly, has been raised.
6 . The Persian press has recently published articles calling attention to
the necessity for the revival of agriculture. They point out that in recent years
there has been an over-concentration of industrialisation and urbanism to the
detriment of the peasant and the life of the countryside. It is rather on the
latter that the economy of the country should be based.
7. A serious result of the insecurity of the countryside and of disorder in
the administration is that peasants are neglecting the autumn sowings which are
now due. This is particularly in Mazanderan and the Kermanshah area.
8 . The Budget Commission of the Majlis has approved the Railway
Construction Budget, amounting to 805 million rials. Construction of the lines
Zinjan-Tabriz, Nishapur-Meshed and Kashan-Yazd is to continue.
[24—52] ; ^£Cd. POL. r *
9 5 i)£C 941
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