Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎393v] (786/807)

The commander is Colonel Mahin, an artillery officer, speaking French and
Russian, sensible and tactful.
8 . The Persian Government has asked the American Government for the
services of two advisers, one for the administrative work of the War Office, the
other for the gendarmerie. It is understood that the American Government has
agreed to supply these officers. ‘
A pfointments — Military.
9. Sarhang Ahmed Sartipe to he Inspector of Infantry on the staff of
General Shahhakhti.
Legal.
10. In the past the serving of summons, writs and notices on military
personnel has been a slow and sometimes impossible task. In order to speed up
the procedure, new legislation has been introduced whereby such summons, &c.,
will be served direct on military personnel residing outside barracks and military
zones, and on those residing in barracks or military zones through military
tribunals, who are enjoined to see that no delay occurs.
^ i Internal Security.
Azerbaijan.
11 . The situation in the Rezaieh district is calmer, hut villagers are still
afraid to return to their homes. On the 17th May the Governor-General reported
that in Rezaieh there were 60,000 refugees from the villages who were refusing
to go back until some security was guaranteed to them. There are more refugees
in Shahpur and Khoi. The Soviet authorities are said to be co-operating with the
Persian authorities, but not to the extent of taking action by force against the
Kurds. They had promised the Minister for War to post detachments of troops
among the villages with the object of inducing the inhabitants to return, but this
measure has not yet sufficiently restored confidence.
12. The Soviet authorities, after holding out for some time for a maximum
of 500, have now agreed that 1,500 Persian troops may be stationed at Rezaieh.
The first detachment is to be sent from Tehran on the 18th and 19th May.
13. The outbreak at Rezaieh is reported to be confined to the Herki and the
Shakak, some of the latter having come over from Iraq. The Herki are renowned
for their savagery and lawlessness, and, although the atrocities attributed to
them were greatly exaggerated, preliminary reports indicate that they caused
considerable loss of life and destruction. The Minister of War says that,
according to reports given to him at Rezaieh, there were about 350 killed and
wounded among villagers and gendarmerie. This number may prove to have been
exaggerated. The Governor-General of Rezaieh has reported that some 300
villages have been pillaged in the district.
14. A peculiar feature of the outbreak is that, according to reports from
several sources, Assyrian and Armenian villages did not suffer. This is regarded
by Persians as an indication that the Kurds were anxious not to antagonise the
Russians, on whose neutrality they felt they could rely. The Turkish Military
Attache finds it even more ominous. He sees in it proof that the Russians are
favouring the Kurds and Assyrians with a view to instigating them against the
Turks should necessity arise.
15. The General Staff reports that the forces sent to Eastern Azerbaijan
(see Summary No. 12/42, paragraph 12) are now disarming the Luchianlu section
of the Shahsevan tribe in the neighbourhood of Ahar (D.S. No. J. 38 L.).
Kurdistan.
16. No further developments have been reported. Hama Rashid is still at
large, sometimes on one side of the frontier, sometimes on the other. Until he
has been put under restraint, the peace of Persian Kurdistan will always be liable
to be disturbed.
Fars.
17. There has been no serious interference recently with traffic on the road
between Bushire and Shiraz, but between Shiraz and Isfahan there have been
hold-ups and assaults on labour. These are probably the work of migrating Arab