Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎349r] (697/807)

indexed
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF
PERSIA.
With th<a Compliment#
Jrju-: oiLuL .
INDIA DffiECr
TY’S GOVERNMENT
H^c
February 4, 1942.
CONFIDENTIAL. U«d®«> Secre
for For© At
- i\V 6
[E 794/19/34]
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden
(No. 16.)
.ir
Section 2.
■EXT
1345
—(Received Febmary 4.)
'942 r
If
Copy No.
HIS Majesty’s representative preseriTSTlTis complitnems to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 2 for the period the 6 th January
to the 13th January, 1942, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
9
Tehran, January 13, 1942.
cxiU-fc ti
U)cxa
Enclosure.
fltrv
B
Military A ttache’s Intelligence Summary No. 2 for the Perio (
January 6 to January 13, 1942.
ffU/ruxJ^j
(Secret.)
Persian Affairs.
Political.
THE treaty has not yet gone to the Majlis for the second reading,
large number of modifications and demands for further explanations suggested
by Deputies during the first reading, all except a few were rejected by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet did not ask for any modification in the treaty itself, but requested
that certain articles should be more clearly and fully defined in letters to be
annexed to the treaty. This request has been refused by His Majesty’s Govern
ment. The Berlin radio had confidently predicted that it would be refused, but
suggested that His Majesty’s Government would put the onus of refusal on to the
Soviet Government.
LOaJll(
Of a
OtAJL
2. The Prime Minister, both by his own speeches and through obvious
inspired articles that have appeared in the press, has been making a fairly
effective defence of the treaty and of the policy of the Government that led to its
initialling. A paper that ventured to express that section of public opinion
which is opposed to the treaty was suppressed—a shock to those who hoped that
the days of freedom of speech had arrived. But the Prime Minister and the
Cabinet are still very susceptible to the criticism of the Majlis and the public.
Conscious that they have as yet little support on which to lean, in spite of the
respect which the Prime Minister is held for his honesty, though not for his
energy, they are anxious to placate public opinion as far as is possible.
3. The Government is so concerned with the business of getting the treaty
through the Majlis that all other business is suffering. Little has been done
towards a settlement of the question of the late Shah’s large estates. Formerly
dependent on forced labour for their cultivation they now lie fallow to a large
extent. Other questions needing early attention are the resuscitation of agricul
ture, the reorganisation of the gendarmerie and the army, the fundamental
readjustment of the country’s finances, the distribution of supplies and food and
the control of prices. The Government has announced that it is drafting a Bill
for the prevention of hoarding and profiteering.
4. The desire that America should become a party to the Anglo-Russian-
Persian Treaty, which has been evident in Tehran for some time, has now found
expression in articles in the Persian press, particularly on the occasion of
Mr. Bullitt’s visit.
5. The press has recently published articles indicating the advantages
Persia has gained from relations with Great Britain, Soviet Russia, America and
Turkey. Great Britain is given credit for following a consistent policy—since
the time of Lord Curzon—of supporting the Central Government. (The inference
[26—26]
RECa POL. DEPt, j
I 6 MAR. 942 J ^
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. || T\