Coll 28/111 ‘Persia. Kermanshah – Political diaries.’ [‎80r] (160/751)

PROPAGANDA
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18. The resounding Russian successes are the
chief topic of discussion, (after the intolerable local
econonic conditions and the impossible state of local
administration), and our own propaganda, naturally
pales before them. We have not much to offer at
present except posters and magazines to which the
local inhabitants have by now become used. A large
sketch map of the Russian front with coloured lines and
flags to show recent advances was prepared for the
Consulate's propaganda shcp-window, and drew much
attention, even Persian military officers stopping
to examine it. Coloured portraits of Fing George VI
have been selling readily at three rials and are to
be seen in many shops and houses.
19. Most people 'are beginning to feel that the *
Allies may win the war, but the inveterate pro-Nazis^
promise a German counter-stroke in the spring* possibly
through Turkey. The withdrawal of British troops
through Kermanshah towards Iraq tends to support this,
idea, as does the fact that we continue to construct
aerodromes in this area.
20. Local opinion is difficult to judge. ?/any
leading officials now show outward friendliness to* the
Consulate, but the ordinary resident still remains aloof.
It has not been possible to form a local Anglo-Iranian
relief committee* in spite of many approaches, but the
reorganised Persian Poorhouse committee recently suggested
that H.M.Consul be asked to join* it. One leading official
gave a dinner party a few weeks ago to the small British
community and to some British officers and made & n
effusive speech, but confidential information received
a few days later said that he had reported adversely on
a subordinate in his office for being too pro-British.
There is a section of opinion which would like to see
more active British intervention in Persian affairs,
as the only remedy for present conditions, but among
the military and the police there remains a hard core of
anti-British feeling, ready to criticise our every action
and to applaiid our every setback. One school-inspector
recently ordered some artistic and wholly unobjectionable
photographs of British aeroplanes* ships, tanks, etc.
to be removed from one school where they were displayed
as a gift from this Consulate. Action was tacen by
the new Governor on our protesting, and the offender,
as in ail such cases, <immediately rushed round to claim
that he had always been*one of our friends. *
30VI1ST ACTIVITIES. * *
# *
21. Not so much has been heard of these during the
month* The Soviet Consulate now circulates a journal
’’Friend of Iran” published in Tehran, and has put up a
few