Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎365r] (729/807)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
PERSIA.
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t he CompHm»Qtk ‘ ^ » karcji 13, 1942.
CONFIDENTIAL.| l wrfat> SdOT^ta of State 1 St 2 Section AP/> mu*
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Copy No. 97
for* Fopai^n
fE 1649/19/54]
ft. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received March 13.)
(No. 58.) '
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. 8 for the period 18th to
24th February, 1942, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, February 24, 1942. ^ ^*\fc fe
fVV'TU^Jtui
(Secret) Enclosure. & | Srv*ueU,
Military Attache' s l 7 itelligence Summary No. 8 for the period ^I
Fehuaty 18 to 24, 1942. fA
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Persian Affairs.
1. The Government.
Agitation for changes in the Cabinet has continued throughout the week
It is directed mainly against the Minister of the Interior, Sipahbod Ahmadi, who
was one of Reza Shah’s most effective lieutenants and amassed considerable
wealth during his reign—a ruthless, energetic man who has little patience with
parliaments and democracy, the most forceful character in the Cabinet. Attacks
are also being made on the Minister of Ways and Communications, General
Jahanbani, who has co-operated well with the Transportation Directorate, and
on Dr. Nafisi, the Minister of Finance, an honest and hard-working Minister,
liie Prime Minister s position seems secure for the time being, as his most
serious rival, Qavam-es-Sultaneh, after months of laborious intrigue to create for
“If a party in the Majlis, has written to the press saying that rumours to
the effect that he desired to become Prime Minister were baseless, as his health
would not allow him to accept the responsibility.
The Government’s Bill against hoarding and profiteering has made little
progress, owing to the effective delaying tactics adopted bv the Deputies with
whom the Bill is not popular, since many of them are both hoarding and
profiteering.
2. The Press.
The press has been much occupied with demands for reform for the
elimination of officials connected with the abuses of Reza Shah’s regime, for the
establishment of security and for a reduction in the sterling rate of exchange
There has been some argument for foreign advisers in certain departments.
Dr. Millspaugh s work coming in for warm praise in one paper. There has
been some discreet pro-Ally propaganda and some cautious condemnation of the
Axis, but generally the tone of comments about the war has been pessimistic*
foretelling a long war.
3. The Royal Family.
^ I he Queen, accompanied by the Shah’s twin sister, Princess Ashraf. left bv
B.O.A.C. plane on the 19th February for a visit to her brother, King Farouk.
Persian Forces.
Ser jf K°. f suce esses. notably against Soulat-es-Sultaneh in
Khouissan in Dashti, in Khuzistan against the Bahmai (see paragraph 9 below)
to k t h if a S al " st ^ n ” r Ahmadi (see paragraph 8 below), has done something
p” mor aIe of the Persian forces, both army and gendarmerie, and to
establish some—but little—-respect for the Persian Government. Saqqiz was a
set-back, but it is reported that Persian troops fought fairly well asrainst snnerior
^ I RECd. POL. DEPt.