Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎377v] (754/807)

crises have been averted just in time in most cases. It is believed that wheat is
still being hoarded, but with the approach of the new harvest, which, it is hoped,
will be up to the average, hoarded stores should soon appear on the market.
5. The influx of 45,000 Poles has greatly increased anxiety regarding the
food situation. Although these are being supplied by the British military
authorities with imported wheat, sugar and tea, other articles of food, such as
meat, vegetables and fruit and fuel, are being purchased locally on a limited
market. This is undoubtedly causing hardship to the local population and
complaints are already loud.
6. The Minister of Finance in an interview with the press stated that since
September 1941 imports of wheat from the sterling area has been 40,798 tons at
a cost of £630,355, and that other goods had been imported to a value of about
£600,000.
A ir Services.
7. The Persian Government has announced its intention to inaugurate air
mail services between Tehran on the one hand and Kermanshah, Meshed, Tabriz
and Bushire on the other. It is doubtful whether this programme will be imple
mented in full, but the service to Kermanshah is due to begin at once.
A ppointments — Civil.
8. —(i) Sartip Muhammad Hussein Firuz to be Ustandar of Fars (see
paragraph 9 of Summary No. 12/42) in addition to commanding the Fars
Division.
(ii) Ali Akbar Assadi to be Farmandar of Nishapur.
(iii) Ali Ashgar Musavvir Rehmani to be Farmandar of Bam.
(iv) Buzurg Ibrahimi to be Farmandar of Rezaieh.
(v) Amir Asad to be Farmandar of Mahabad (Sauj Bulagh). He is a
prominent Kurd of the Mukri tribe.
(vi) Abu Talib Shirvani to be Director of the Department of Publicity and
Propaganda.
(vii) Hasan Isfandiari Haji Muhtashim-us-Saltaneh (M.A. 97) (F.O. 125)
has been re-elected President of the Majlis.
Internal Security.
Fars.
9. The situation has not outwardly changed. There has been no increase
in disorder except on the part of the Boir Ahmadi, but it may be assumed that
Nasir Qashqai has been endeavouring to strengthen his position with a view to
defying the Government if they should challenge him. The Government’s policy
remains quite indefinite.
Boir Ahmadi.
10. This tribe is living up to its old reputation for lawlessness and
truculence. A section of them who winter in Khuzestan attempted to blackmail
the A.I.O.C. with a demand for a large sum of money, backed by threats of an
attack on Gach Saran. As was reported in Summary No. 13/42, paragraph 7,
they were attacked by Persian forces, who, after some desultory fighting, appear
to have caught up and fired on the main body of the section, which included
women, of whom three were killed. There were other casualties among the
tribesmen. Apprehensions were expressed lest the tribesmen might attempt to
take their revenge by attacking the A.I.O.C. at Gach Saran, so a battalion of
British troops has been sent there. There is no evidence yet whether the effect of
the action of the Persian forces will be locally salutary or provocative.
11. Other sections of the tribe are reported to have surrounded and to be
attacking Ardalan (58 miles north-west of Shiraz), and raiding parties have
attacked traffic on the Shiraz-Isfahan road near Yezdikhast. An increase in
Boir Ahmadi lawlessness was anticipated in Summary No. 12/42, paragraph 16,
when the escaped chiefs joined the tribe. In addition to Abdullah, son of
Shukrullah. Hussein Quli Mamasseni and the son of a famous old Boir Ahmadi
brigand. Sartip Khan, are reported to be in the vicinity of Ardalan, where they
are likely to be joined by Ali and Vali. who have been creating trouble in the
south.