Coll 28/111 ‘Persia. Kermanshah – Political diaries.’ [‎5v] (11/751)

of the winter, when more kerosene than ever is needed, has caused much
dissatisfaction.
13. The generally unsatisfactory food situation calls for urgent action.
The Persian Government is probably unable to remedy the present state of
affairs, partly because its administrative machinery is unequal to the task, and
partly because it seems to be unable to obtain sufficient supplies of certain
necessary food-stuffs from abroad. As this unsatisfactory situation is causing
anti-British feeling, it is to be hoped that the Persian Government will be given
immediate assistance in obtaining part, at least, of the commodities it requires
to import from abroad 1 to relieve shortages here.
14. It has been suggested to me that at least the shortage of wheat might
be temporarily relieved if some of the bakeries here were encouraged to mix
barley or maize-flour with their wheat-flour, and if the second-class bread thus
made available were sold at much lower prices for consumption by the poorer
classes. This seems a good idea, and I propose to urge the local authorities to
consider the above plan and to put it into practice, if possible.
(F) British Interests.
15. A rumour reached this consulate on the 28th October that the Persian
staff of the Anglo-Iranian Company’s refinery here proposed staging a demon
stration on the following day against the extra hours of work they are now doing
without extra pay. The General Officer Commanding 6th Indian Division was
informed and took precautions to deal with any serious incident which might
occur, but nothing transpired, and it is understood that the Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company—to forestall any trouble which might arise—proposes to make
increases in the pay of the company’s workers. Since early in October there is a
“ black-out in the Kermanshah refinery area. The British members of the
refinery’s staff are now doing A.R.P. work regularly.
16. Two British Indians and an Iraqi employee of this consulate have
complained that brigands have looted their property from villages near Kerman
shah. the British military authorities have, on being notified by this consulate,
urged the Persian military authorities to recover the'stolen property and to find
and punish the culprits, but, so far, no satisfaction has been obtained. Indeed,
it seems doubtful whether any redress for the losses suffered can be hoped for
as long as the Persian gendarmerie and military forces remain in their present
demoralised state and are unable to maintain order, even in the immediate
vicinity of Kermanshah.
The British military authorities have, of course, not actively intervened in
the three cases referred to above, and have taken up the attitude that punitive
measures against brigands and robbers are entirely the affair of the Persian
j authorities.
(G) Propaganda.
17. On the 14th October Major-General Thomson, G.O.C. 6th Indian
Division here, informed this consulate that British propaganda and publicity
activities would not be directed by the British military authorities or by
Lieutenant-Colonel Fletcher (the political adviser to the Iraq force headquarters),
but that this consulate should continue, as hitherto, to take every possible step
to enlighten local public opinion on the war aims and war efforts of Britain and
her Allies. Lieut.-Colonel Fletcher has given most valuable advice and assistance
in organising local propaganda efforts and in obtaining much-needed equipment
(e.g., radio sets, loud-speakers, amplifiers, &c.) As active support from the
British military authorities here has been promised—especially by the placing of
personnel at our disposal—it should now be possible to undertake much propa
ganda work which could not be attempted prior to the entry of British forces
in Persia.
18. At the same time, it should be stressed that this consulate will be able
to do only one-tenth of what is really necessary until additional staff is provided
and until funds, equipment and suitable propaganda literature in abundance are
made available. The best propaganda Britain could do in Persia at the present
juncture would be to improve local conditions, and more especially the food
situation. By saying “What is needed here is more bread and less paper.”
General Thomson has pithily and accurately summed up the situation.