Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎342r] (683/807)

January 10, 1942.
V 4
CONFIDENTIAL. ,
! T42
Section 2.
[E 203/19/34] Copy No. Q9
SzV /?. Bullard to Mr. Eden. — (Received January 10, 1942.)
(No. 209.)
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. 30 for the period the 9th to
15th December, 1941, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, December 17, 1941.
Enclosure.
Summary No. 30 for the Period Wl %
Military Attache's Intelligence
December 9-15, 1941.
(Secret.)
Persian Affairs.
ON the 14th December the Prime Minister explained the foreign policy of
the Government to Parliament. He began with a statement, on the whole fair
and reasonable, of the arguments by which Great Britain and Russia might
justify their attack on Persia which had brought about the situation'with which
the Government was now faced. Lines of communication through Persia and the
right to take military measures for the protection of their territories lying
adjacent to Persia the Allies would insist on having. If Persia did not
collaborate, she would forfeit the friendly feelings of the Allies. He gave a fair
outline of the terms of the treaty, acknowledged the economic help in the form of
wheat and sugar that the Allies had already given, and left it to his hearers to
infer that the continuance of this help depended on the acceptance of the treaty.
The Prime Minister referred to relations with Turkey and to articles which
had recently appeared in the Turkish press concerning the alleged oppression of
so-called Turkish minorities in Persia (see Summary No. 26, paragraph 21). He
had been assured by the Turkish Government that the views expressed in those
articles were the personal views of the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. and did not represent the views of
the Turkish Government.
It is too early yet to say what impression was made by the speech on the
Parliament or the public. It was followed by a vote of confidence in the
Government.
2. Further delay in the signature of the treaty has been caused by difficulties
in getting the Russians to agree to the Persian translation and in reconciling the
Russian text with the British. All three texts are to be authentic. • Russian
successes against the Germans have undoubtedly lessened the opposition to the
treaty.
3. The Ministry of Commerce has been amalgamated with the Ministry of
Industry and Mines.
4. The Persian Government has prohibited the export from Persia of all
goods of foreign origin.
Internal Situation.
5. Reports from consuls generally indicate a slight improvement in the food
situation, no increase in disorder, except in Kurdistan, and in Fars an improve
ment in security. Nasir Khan and the Qashgai are watching events, and
particularly the effect of British neutrality in Kurdistan.
Kurdish Situation.
6 . The situation in Kurdistan has become tense. Mohamed Rashid,
apparently appreciating that it was time to take action before General
Shahbakhti’s negotiations or intrigues effected disruption in his following, is