Coll 28/111 ‘Persia. Kermanshah – Political diaries.’ [‎17r] (34/751)

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are known to be anxious to reoccupy Sakkiz, but, as explained above, there is still
too much snow on the roads to make an advance to that area possible, and, in any
case, it is likely that Hama (Mohammad) Rashid Waina and other Kurdish rebel
leaders would oppose the occupation of Sakkiz if and when attempted.
14. General Shahbakhti, General Officer Commanding here, has appointed
^aifullah Khan Ardelan as Farmandar of Sakkiz, but this appointment is
obviously premature. He has also appointed as Farmandar of Merivan
Mahmud Khan Kanisanan. who will be responsible to him for the maintenance
of order in that area. It is difficult to judge how far this appointment should
be regarded as indicating that the Persian Government’s authority has been
restored in the Merivan and Avroman districts. Actually, there is no confirma
tion that Persian military and civil authorities have re-established themselves in
that area; if that is the case, the appointment of Mahmud Khan as Farmandar
of Merivan is little more than a piece of window-dressing designed to foster the
belief that conditions in Kurdistan are improving and becoming normal once
again.
(d) Tribal Notes.
15. As the tribal situation in Kurdistan has been dealt with in the previous
section of this diary, there is little of much importance to report regarding tribal
affairs in the rest of this consular district.
16. The Kalhur tribe is quiet, and it is to be hoped that the calm will not
be disturbed as a result of the rivalries of the two principal claimants to its
headship, Amir Makhsus Ghobadian and Kerim Davudian.
17. Pressure brought to bear recently upon the Kakawand tribe has also
yielded good results, and the tribesmen have surrendered and agreed to hand over
their arms and most of the property—chiefly cattle and sheep—looted by them
from their neighbours.
18. It would, however, be a mistake to conclude from the above undoubted
successes that all the tribesmen in this district have now handed over to the
Persian military authorities the arms which they managed to collect in September
and October 1941. Exact figures showing the totals of all arms, Ac., collected are
not available, but it would be unwise to assume that, as a result of recent tribal
surrenders, the tribesmen in this area are completely disarmed, determined to keep
the peace and willing to respect and obey the Persian Government’s authorities.
It is probable that, while a large percentage of the tribesmen’s arms has been
surrendered, manv hundreds of rifles—perhaps even 2,000 or 3,000—are still in
their hands; it would be too much to expect the tribesmen to give up all their
rifles, which will certainly provide the wherewithal for a good and profitable
“ shooting ” season later on.
(e) Economic Situation.
19. During January prices of all commodities and goods continued to rise
sharply, and. despite representations made to the President of the Municipality
and to the chief of police by the British municipal t authorities and by this
consulate—urging the need for immediate and drastic action to combat
profiteering and hoarding and to control prices—the situation further
deteriorated.
20. At his first interview with the newly arrived Ustandar His Majesty’s
Consul referred to the serious effect of the recent rise in most prices on the living
conditions of the overwhelming majority of the local population, and emphasised
the fact that, as earlier representations had yielded no results, the time to take
immediate and energetic measures to reduce prices and to punish profiteers was
long overdue. Although it is only one week since the Ustandar arrived, a
beginning in the uphill task has been made and a slight fall in prices of a few
commodities has been brought about. The local population is, however, still too
apathetic to collaborate with the local authorities and the latter can hardly be
expected to make such headway as long as the townsfolk hesitate to denounce
profiteers and do nothing to help Government officials in their efforts to check
the rise in the cost of living here.
21. The wheat situation is now regarded as satisfactory and local stocks
are known to be large enough to meet the needs of this district until mid-July,
when the 1942 crop becomes available. Incidentally, the 1942 wheat crops in the
Kermanshah district are likely to be about 30 per cent, below the average in
volume.