Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎382v] (764/807)

(iii) Sarhang Naqdi has been appointed Judge Advocate-General of the
Persian army, vice Hassan Moaper relieved. .
(iv) Imad Mumtaz has been appointed Farmandar of Meshed and assistant
to the Ustandar of Khorrasan.
(v) Muhammad Hadi has been appointed Farmandar of Zabul.
(vi) Sartip Shaibani to be Governor of Mamassani, Quhgilu and Behbenan 0^,
(a new appointment).
The Persian Army.
5. The following is a summary of the reply given in the Majlis by the
Minister of War to criticism on the army vote : The Persian army was the
creation of twenty years of effort. At the cost of many casualties in officers and
men it has given the country security. After fulfilling its task of achieving
security, it was preparing itself for the task of national defence when the war
broke out. Like many other modern armies, it was insufficiently mechanised, and
like manv other armies, it had broken down in consequence. Certain officers had
shown a lamentable neglect of duty in deserting their posts when danger came
and they were being sought out and punished. Steps were being taken to
improve 1 the type of young officer student. A new organisation had been laid
down (see military attache’s Summary No. 9/42, paragraph 4). Conscription was
necessary as the basis of a national army. The country, besides, could not afford
a volunteer army.
The A rmy Budget.
6. The budget, which to date has passed its first reading, makes a provision
of 700 million rials “ for the Ministry of War and balance on account of army
purchases.” As usual, expenses of the navy and air force are included in this
vote. A provision for the Amnieh (gendarmerie) is made of 150 million rials.
Though this force is under the Ministry of the Interior, it is, in effect, a defence
services item. A further sum of 1 million rials is provided for the expenses of
the Conscription Department. Thus the total sum for defence or quasi-defence
departments amounts to 950 million rials (equals £6,500,000 at the present l ate
of exchange), or approximately 33^ per cent, of the country s total budget
provision of 3,132,873.081 rials.
Internal Security.
Dashti (see Summary No y 13/ 42, paragraph 9).
7 Thou°'h Colonel Ahinin has been recalled, and though reinforcements
amounting to & 200 rifles reached this force on the 22nd March, the force is still
inactive in Khorttmj. The situation shows signs of deterioration.
Bakhtiari (see Summary No. 14/42 , paragraph 12).
8 The appointment of Murteza Quli Khan as Governor of Bakhtiari has
not taken effect. All the Bakhtiari Khans residing in Tehran have been placed
under police surveillance, and a reliable report from Isfahan states that the
Khans residing there have been treated in a similar manner. Some apprehension
is felt that these precautions, coupled with the despatch of two columns from
Isfahan and Shahreza converging on Semi run (some \
Yezdikhwast), may signify some offensive action against the Bakhtiau with the
strong possibility of infiaming sections of the tribe at present quiescent, and wit
the probable result that the weak and untrained Government forces may sutler
a reverse and precipitate a general Bakhtiari rising The new General Officer
Commanding in Isfahan. Zahidi, is reported to be a fire-eater. The Chief of the
General Staff has definite ideas about tribes and has expressed the view that
nothing but a good drubbing will bring them to heel. He appears to resent the
opinion that, sound as his views may be, the Persian army is hardly in a state to
undertake any offensive action. The Minister of War showed a better under
standing of the situation and assured the military attache that Zahidi had been
told to do nothing precipitate and that the two columns were not sent on any
offensive mission, but that their presence in Semirun would have a steadying
effect.