'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎17v] (34/96)

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Speaks Russian and German.
Employed at Court 1943, and supervised the
arms and powder factories; his services appear to
have pleased the Russians.
Minister of Industry December 1943, but in
coping with a strike had the misfortune accidentally
to kill one of the strikers. Resigned March 1944.
Military attach^ to Moscow, September 1944.
Returned with Qavam in February 1946.
An amiable and jolly old soldier. Is a Bahai.
142. Shahbakhti, General Muhammad
Born about 1882, the son of a peasant inhabiting
the village of Ishtihar, near Tehran, but has now
been heard to describe himself as a native of Azer
baijan, possibly to cover up his humble origin.
He enlisted in the Cossack Brigade about 1901,
distinguished himself by bravery in the field, and
received a commission. In 1914 he was a captain.
He attached himnelf to Reza Khan, whose influence
with General Starosselsky secured him promotion
to the rank of colonel in 1919. After the coup
d'fltat of 1921 he was appointed to command the
Ahan regiment of infantry. In 1925 he was pro
moted general and given command of an infantry
brigade in Tehran. In 1926 he was sent to com
mand the western division, but was recalled in the
spring of 1928 for corruption; he, however, managed
to ingratiate himself with the Shah, and was
appointed shortly afterwards to command the
Persian troops in Kurdistan. In December 1928 he
was sent to command the troops in Pars, but was
superseded by General Shaibani.
Appointed to command the troops in Azerbaijan
in 1932. Promoted to the rank of Amir Lashgar in
March of that year. Transferred to Ahwaz as
general officer commanding, January 1939.
Appointed commander of the western forces
October 1941, with the rank of marshal (sipahbud).
Controlled the Kermanshah area pretty thoroughly,
ignoring completely the civil governor, till he was
transferred to Fars to quell the Qashqais under
Naser Qashqai in February 1943. He was not very
successful in that campaign and after the defeat of
the garrison at Semirum in July 1943 came to
Tehran to report. In his old age he seems to have
become more arrogant and unapproachable. Sus
pected of taking large bribes when at Kermanshah.
An almost entirely uneducated survival from the
Cossack Brigade, resembling in appearance and
manners the more famous product of that corps,
Reza Shah.
Placed on retired list October 1943. Recalled to
active list 1947.
143. Shaibani, General Habibullah
Born about 1885, the son of Nazm-ed-Dowleh,
who came of a middle-class family of Kashan.
In 1906 Shaibani went to Saint-Cyr, where he
graduated in 1910 and joined a French regiment.
Returned to Persia in 1913, and was commissioned
into the Swedish officered gendarmerie as a captain.
He was highly regarded by the Swedish officers, and
was promoted major in 1914. He was strongly
anti-Russian, and consequently anti-Ally, during the
war, and he joined the Muhajerin (the pro-German
party), and remained in Turkey until 1918, when he
returned to Tehran and re-entered the gendarmerie.
He appears to have made contact with Reza Khan
about 1920, and was working in his interests before
the coup d’fitat. Promoted colonel in 1921, he
served in the operations against the Jangalis and
against Simitko. Promoted general of brigade in
1922 and in 1923 went to France in charge of
Persian military students. He entered the French
Staff College and graduated with distinction in 1925.
He attended the Arms Traffic Conference at the
League as Persian representative in the autumn of
1925. and was very sore at the success of the British
representative in getting the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. included
in the Maritime Zone. In 1926 he was appointed
acting Chief of the General Staff. He resigned that
appointment in March 1928 owing to his disagree
ment with certain orders issued by the Shah.
Appointed Minister of Public Works in May 1928
until December, when he lost that appointment
and was placed en disponibilite. Appointed a
member of the High Military Council in January
1929. Promoted general of division in June 1929,
he was sent to command the army*, in F ars to deal
with the rebellion in that province. He was suc
cessful in restoring order, as the Qashgai, although
in a fighting mood, were short of munitions. In
1930 he commanded the operations in the Mama-
senni district and against the Kuhgelus, and by
October he had succeeded in reducing the Kuhgelus,
only one of the khans still refusing to make his
submission to the Government.
Tried by a military court-martial in the autumn
of 1931, on a charge of military inefficiency in his
1930 operations against the Mamasenni and the
Boir Ahmedi tribes, resulting in some 500 Persian
casualties. Sentenced to two years’ imprisonment
and deprivation of all his ranks and dignities. He
was released after a few months in prison, and is
said to have gone abroad during 1935. Said to be
either in Berlin or in Switzerland 1942.
Shaibani is a man of independent views, and Is
somewhat rigid and narrow-minded. He is a str' “
^riA A
disciplinarian, and does not play to the gallery,
military ideas are conservative and sound, and he is
perhaps the only French-trained officer who has not
been led away from the realisation of realities. He
regards Russia as the enemy of Persia; of the
motives underlying British policy he has a fair
understanding, and he thinks that Britain can and
should help Persia in her own interests, but he
believes that Britain will always sacrifice Persia
if it should be in her interest to do so. He is
intensely patriotic, and will stoutly oppose what*
ever he considers to be derogatory to Persian
sovereignty or detrimental to Persian independence.
At the same time he views with disfavour Persia’s
hasty efforts to play the role of a civilised nation.
He is remarkably honest, direct in speech, and
prompt in action. He has little sympathy with
Persian officialdom. His nickname in the army is
“ Feranghi,” not by reason of any imitation of
Europeans, but rather because of the un-Persian
nature of his character. ^
He speaks French fluently.
144. Shams-ul-Mulk Aral, Asadulldh
(Shahab-ud-Daulah), K.C.V.O.
A Qajar prince. Born about 1880. Educated in
Persia. For many years employed in the Telegraph
Department. Governor of Yezd in 1911. Minister
of Posts and Telegraphs 1914^15. Minister of
Public Works 1915. Master of Ceremonies at the
Court 1922-25. Governor of Kermanshah 1929.
Recalled 1933, and appointed Governor of Kurdistan
in October 1934. Recalled April 1936, owing, it is
said, to having incurred the displeasure of the Shah
through not accelerating reforms in his province
Holds the dignity of K.C.V.O., received when in
attendance on Ahmed Shah during his visit to
London in 1919.
Governor-General of Fars early 1942, but was
superseded in the following summer, without having ?
accomplished much. Governor-General of Kerman
shah October 1946.
A rather pompous man, said to be a great
intriguer; but he is not averse to the society of
foreigners, and probably regrets the good old days.
Speaks English and French fluently.
145. Shayiqan, Dr. Sayyid Ali
Born in Sliiraz .in 1904, a son of the late Haji
Seyyid Hashim! Educated at the Tehran Law and