File 566/1921 ‘Persia: military Attaché’s intelligence summaries’ [‎37r] (82/818)

. 6. With reference to paragraph 15 of last week’s summary, the Cabinet on the i
12th July decided to give 6,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month to the ulamas of exodus from Irak I
for their expenses while in Persia. This amount is to be paid to them from the datef
they crossed the frontier.
7. In order to facilitate in finding a solution for the ulama question, His Majesty’s
Minister left Tehran at 5*30 a.m. on the 22nd July by air, and arrived Bagdad about
^pon, a landing having been made at Kazvin en route to pick up petrol.
The two aeroplanes sent to Tehran to fetch His Majesty’s Minister were D.H.9a’s
and made a direct flight to Tehran without landing en route.
The following announcement regarding His Maiesty’s Minister’s departure was
made in the press
“ His Britannic Majesty’s Minister is proceeding to Bagdad in order to seek a
“ solution, compatible with the interests of the two countries, of the question
“ which has a,risen through the departure from Irak of several religious chiefs and
“ their arrival in Persia.
Sir Percv Loraine, being desirous of accomplishing his journey as rapidly as
“ possible, has requested the British aviation authorities to transport him by air.
Those authorities have been good enough to place two aeroplanes at his disposal,
“ which will reach Tehran on Friday, the 20th July.
“ Sir Percy Loraine hopes thus to be able to facilitate and hasten a happy
“ solution of this question, to which he has devoted all his conciliatory efforts
“ during the past fortnight.”
On the people hearing the reason for His Majesty’s Minister’s departure, local |
excitement to a great extent subsided. The Cabinet is anxiously awaiting the result f
of the negotiations taking place in Bagdad.
8. Anti-British propaganda continues in the press. Examples are given in the
appendix.*
9. Anti-British speeches with regard to the deportation of mullahs from Irak
continue to be made every evening in the mosques.
A particularly virulent speech was made in the Shah’s mosque on the 19th July
by Sayyid Abdul Wahab, in the presence of about 4,000 people.
10. With reference to paragraph 31 of last week’s summary, the “Union of
Workmen” in Tehran has opened an office in the city. On the door is the inscription :
“ Proletariat of all nations, unite ! ” with the Soviet crest of the hammer, sickle, &c.,
above it. Meetings are held every evening, at which discussions take place as to the
best methods for bringing about a satisfactory boycott of English goods.
11. With reference to paragraph 7 of last week’s summary, Koshtaria arrived in
Tehran on the 19th July accompanied by a staff of assistants, numbering some fourteen
individuals. These include Stepanof (his business manager), Prince Toumanof (from
Tiflis), a German electrical engineer named Nievert, and Hannibal, who was in Persia
in 1917 and 1918 as aide-de-camp to General Baratof, the general officer commanding
Bussian army corps in Persia.
As Koshtaria arrived here from Moscow it is clear that he is working in collusion ^
with, if not on behalf of, the Soviet Government. The object of his arrival is not yet
clearly established, but is believed to be—
(a.) To assert his claim to the North Persian Oil Concession, in which he hopes to
obtain a controlling interest.
(b.) To open an “ International Bank” in Tehran, with branches at Tabriz, Resht
and Meshed. Capital to be partly German and partly Russian ; 60,000L in
gold for the purpose is reported to be already placed at his disposal.
(c.) To organise a motor transport service between Enzeli and Tehran.
(d.) To foster Russo-Persian trade, in which he has considerable interests.
He is a member of the Russian textile syndicate. Koshtaria’s wife is reported to
be in America, where he has many financial connections.
12. Dr. Hertsfeldt, a German archaeologist, who has previously worked in Irak and Sj
other partsHUAsia Minor, arrived last week in Tehran. Whether he has any motive I
for visiting Persia other than archaeology is not yet clear.
13. The first secretary at the Turkish Legation, Russi Bey, returned to Tehran on
the 13th July from Angora. He brought with him 25,00o Turkish gold liras for
Legation expenses.
* Not printed.