Coll 28/111 ‘Persia. Kermanshah – Political diaries.’ [‎285r] (572/751)

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11* A more serious situation developed in September
with the seizure of MERIVAiv by HAMA RASHID of BANEH
and ALI KHAii VHLILH2.IRI, one of the ke rival a chiefs, who
with assistance from MAHi«UD KliAi 1 * Dlajil ejected MAHJ^IUD
KHAN KAiiY SEHAi'iY from the town, fhe latter* thereupon
appealed to the Persian Array for help. This was promptly
given arid Merivan occupieu on September slst by a force
which incluaed taiuco, annoureu cars ana artillery,
ii^iicouraged by this success anu the slight resistance
encountered, the 0.0. 4 ^v, Division, nrigaaier Hu.iHiViaiHD
AP3HAR, reinforced by BOO troops from Tehran and with
the support of contingents of loyal tribes, marched on
BANEH and occuoiea it, again meeting with negligible
resistance, on October 1st, the town having been fired
b;y Hama Rashid who aicceeaed in withdrawing to the hills.
Here on the f lraq frontier he took to harassing the
Persian forces with guerilla attacks on military posts
and transport columns, now faced with increasingly
rigorous weather conditions in rough country and with
aggravated transport and supply difficulties. At the
end of the period under review the assistance of the
’Iraqi authorities on the frontier was being sought
in order to aeny him refuse beyond the border.
1&. The Persian Government, in undertaking these
operations, were believed to be far from averse from
taking up the challenge flung down by Hama kashid, for
since the rebellion under his leadership in the spring
of 194# ana subsequent settlement whereby he received a
monthly subsidy and virtual local autonomy, their juris
diction in the Baneh area had been purely nominal.
Their aim now appears to be to restore their authority
and to reduce the dangers of a movement towards Kurdish
autonomy, which they fear may be stimulated by the
example of Hama Rashid, a popular figure with much
once over neighbouring 'lurdish chiefs, notable
lAZI MUFARlwii) at HAH Ad AO, with whom be was said to^have
close relations. The commendable desire of the Persian
Government to introduce a civil administration in the
disturbed area, upon the re-establishment of their
authority, was demonstrated by the despatch of a Cabinet
Minister, n. KHALIL RAHIMI, during October to Kuraistan
to investigate the possibilities oi an acceptable settle
ment. bnbued, as was also the then Prime Minister,
M. tiA'DD, with reasonable views on the Kurdish question
and /