Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎344v] (688/807)

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internal Situation.
7. Kurdistan .—The Chief of the General Staff claims that successful
military action was taken against Muhammad Rashid and the Kurds who were
threatening Diwandarreh, resulting in appreciable Kurdish casualties and the
withdrawal of Muhammad Rashid. It is not clear whether there has been an^^
real fighting between Kurds and Persian troops. Air action by leaflets and
bombs was taken; a column did move to the relief of Diwandarreh; and
Muhammad Rashid has withdrawn some distance. It is also reported that the
Qalbaghi, who were previously said to have come to terms,^have again sued for
peace. The General Staff now speak of reoccupying Sagiz and Baneh. tai
8 . Impartial reports state that even among the Kurds as far north as
Lake Urmia it is commonly said that Muhammad Rashid has the support of the ^
British. There, however, he commands little support. Two chiefs, Mohammed
Riza and Mohammed Shirif, are reported to have announced that they were fytm
drawing pay for the upkeep of 300 horsemen from the British. Ku/\<te.
9. Some of the Kurdish chiefs who were invited to Baku by the Soviet
authorities have returned, and on their return paraded the streets of Rezaieh
with red flags and pictures of Stalin. Kurds appear in the streets of Tabriz
and other towns carrying arms without interference by the Persian authorities,
who fear to risk Russian displeasure. Both in Tehran and Azerbaijan Persian
authorities express much anxiety about Russian policy towards the Kurds. His
Majesty’s Consul at Tabriz, however, considers those fears to be exaggerated.
10 . There have been no reports during the last fortnight of serious
disturbances to internal security.* A minor operation was carried out by
Persian forces, assisted by some Mamasenni tribesmen, against the Buvair
Ahmadi, which resulted in the capture of some robbers. Nasir Qashgai is
reported to be advancing to Larestan with a Qashgai force to relieve a Persian
garrison which has been isolated for some time and to collect arms for the Persian
Government. He is subsequently to endeavour to collect arms in Dashti.
11 . Reports that Ganawah was threatened by a forcfe of tribesmen turned
out to be without foundation.
Persian Forces.
12. The Persian General Staff has drawn up an establishment for a
reorganised army of five divisions, with a strength of 80,500, including recruits,
and a general reserve of 19.000. According to their statement, the army is
greatly deficient in the minimum requirements of motor transport for mobility
and maintenance. Indeed, it is deficient in all services.
13. The state of morale is still low. The army is suffering not only from
the collapse of its prestige, but also from a lack of incentive and a lack of
direction. The Chief of the General Staff is a forcible personality, and he has
around him some intelligent and honest officers, but demoralisation has gone so
far that, at best, it will be some time before morale is restored. That will only
be done by setting before it some goal that makes an appeal to its interest.
A fyointments.
14. Brigadier Key Kavoussi to command the 14th (Kerman) Division.
Brigadier Ghulam Ali Ghadar to be Military Governor of Tehran.
Brigadier Farajollah Aghevli ( 6 ) (25) to be head of the gendarmerie, vice
Brigadier Zahidi (303) (217), who resigned when General Ahmadi (21) ( 6 ) became
Minister of the Interior.
Brigadier Khosrow Panah to be Director of Recruiting, vice Brigadier
Farajollah Aghevli (see above).
(The first figure refers to Military Attache’s, the second to Foreign Office.
Personalities.)
15. The Persian Government have agreed, as a result of a joint repre
sentation by the British Minister and the Soviet Ambassador, to sell 100.000 rifles,
800 light machine guns, 400 medium machine guns, all of 7-92-mm. calibre. All
these will go to Russia with the exception of 25 per cent, of the automatic weapons