Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎346v] (692/807)

2
Intei'nal Security.
4. Generally the improvement in internal security seems to be maintained.
There are no reports of disturbances except from the Kermanshah Province, where
Lurs, principally Kakavand and Ahmad ivand, have been robbing, but, as far as
reports go, not on a serious scale. ^
5. It is reported from Shiraz that Jahrum (D.S. 17H, 3230), where therd^
is a small garrison of Amnieh, is being attacked by local rebels led by one named~
Zaighami. A battalion of infantry, with two armoured cars and a field gun. has
moved from Shiraz to restore the situation. It is possible that some Qashgais
are assisting the rebels. There is no further information of Naser Qashgai’s
operations in Larestan. but the Persian authorities seem to be fairly confident
of his good faith at present.
6 . There seems to be little change in the position in Kurdistan. Their brief
success has hardened the attitude of the Persian military authorities, who. anxious
to re-establish their prestige, now talk less of peace by negotiation. This
bellicosity is, however, likely to be tempered by more moderate counsels as the
Government is aware that there is more at stake than the defeat of the rebel
leader, Mohamed Rashid. If, however, he could be induced to return to Iraq
the situation would be greatly simplified and the way would then be clearer for
a reasonable settlement, which might be reached with the help of influential Kurds
in Tehran.
7. Ihe “official'' Order of Battle of the Persian army, as given by the
War Office, is attached as an appendix. Many of the units exist in little more
than name as a justification for paying the officers, and all are considerably
under strength. A reorganisation is intended (see Summary No. 31/1941.
paragraph 12 ).
8 . The reorganisation of the Amnieh has been delayed by the resignation
of General Zahidi, who drew up the scheme (see Summary No. 29 ; 1941.
paragraph 12 ).
Political.
Russian Affairs.
, 9. There are accumulating reasons for suspecting that the Soviet political
authorities are carrying out a purge of their enemies in Persia. A number of
murders have been committed, a few in Tehran, more in Azerbaijan, of Caucasian
refugees and known Turkish agents. A serious attempt was made to murder
General Vigornitsky, a harmless old White Russian who considered himself the
local representative of the heirs of the Tsars. Babayan, the head of the Armenian
Dashnak party in Tehran, has recently disappeared. Other White Russians have
disappeared and there is considerable anxiety in the community.
10 . It is reported from a reliable source that the Kurds* and Azerbaijani
notables who visited Baku were told by Bakhiroff, President of the Soviet
Azerbaijan Republic, that they were not to regard the visit as having any
political significance and that Azerbaijan would be evacuated after the war. On
the other hand, the Turkish Consul at Tabriz has stated that his information is
that the Kurds were told that their hopes would soon be realised and the
£v*ervAzerbaijanis that the frontier between Soviet and Persian Azerbaijan no longer
Cffwtva fo existed. It is not impossible that both stories are correct, for Soviet official
pronouncements are often at variance with the words and actions of subordinate
i political officials.
■to. n. It is difficult, in the face of evidence that comes from Azerbaijan, to
twfa Aievbay- absolve the Soviet political authorities from the charge of encouraging anti-
-<Ws W Government elements in the province. Of the two principal newspapers published
Md W to in Tabriz, one strongly anti-Government and advocating autonomy for
LmJd*. ^ z - ei T ai j al b the other supporting the Persian Government, the former has
increased to a bi-weekly issue, while the latter has been suppressed by the Soviet
lAifotl “un a- authorities, and its offices raided for publishing alleged “ Fascist ” propaganda
An extract from the former is attached as an appendix : it gives an idea of
itr 6 c - the colour of the news P a P er - The Soviet authorities themselves also publish a
newspaper m Tabriz, m Azerbaijan Turki, needless to say without having asked
Cc/v uaA Sc*** the permission of the Persian authorities. Junior political officers distribute
^ti(i‘o^jthis paper to tea-houses and schools, although the higher Soviet authorities main-