خارجي ٤١/٥٠٠١ "بلاد فارس - الشؤون الداخلية (إرساليات متنوعة)". [و‎‎١‎٩] (٢٤٨/٣٧)

7
Persian politics for many years, was chosen Prime Minister with sixty-four
votes, against twenty-four cast for Sadiq Sadiqi (Mustashar ed Dowleh), who
was preferred by the Russians, and only three votes for Qawam es Sultaneh.
'25. Hakimi presented his Cabinet to the Shah on the 10th May. It was
composed as follows :—
Anushirvan Sepahbudi : Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Jt Ghulam Hussein Rahnema : Education.
Nasrullah Khal’atbari (Etela ul Mulk) : Agriculture.
Ur. Ismail Marzban : Health.
Abdul Hussein Hajir : Finance.
Abul Qasim Najm : Commerce and Industry.
Ibrahim Zand : War.
Mustafa Adi: Without Portfolio.
Hussein Ali Kamal Hedayat (Nasr ul Mulk): Without Portfolio.
Nadir Arasteh : Roads.
The first two in the above list were new to Cabinet rank, Rahnema being,
indeed, a newcomer to political life. The last four had held posts in Bayat s
preceding ministry. Khalatbari, who is over 70, had long been in retirement.
Hajir was able, but was likely to be opposed by the Tudeh; and Najm,
ambassador at Kabul, was expected to refuse appointment. Hakimi himself
took charge of the Ministry of the Interior, while the Ministry of Justice.was
placed temporarily under the direction of the Under-Secretary, Dr. Khushbin,
until the return from America of Allayar Saleh, who was designated for the
post. The Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs was left temporarily vacant. On
the whole the ministers were considered a colourless lot, and met with little
general approval.
26. The Prime Minister presented his Cabinet to the Majlis on the
13th May, and on the following day announced his programme, which included
agricultural and economic reform; improvement of conditions for workers and
peasants; revision of taxes; and the usual declaration of its desire to work for the
consolidation of friendly relations with the Allies based on the Tripartite Treaty,
the Atlantic Charter "and the Declaration of Tehran, The Tudeh party
immediately declared on principle its opposition to a Government which did not
stand for a radical reorganisation of the social system; and with the Tudeh was
now also an increasing number of Deputies, who for private reasons found it
advisable to court Russian favour. Many Deputies, moreover, who had voted for
Hakimi were annoyed that he refused to be influenced by them in his choice of
ministers, and were especially disappointed that they had not secured the appoint
ment of a Minister of the Interior, who would rig the forthcoming elections in
their favour. The Deputies of the Right felt that the composition of the Cabinet
revealed a desire on the part of the Prime Minister to propitiate the Russians.
27. The position of the Cabinet appeared therefore from the beginning to
be none too secure, and its supporters did their best to postpone the taking of the
vote of confidence. For a week the Majlis discussed the question of the impeach
ment for alleged peculation of Taddayun, a former Minister of Food. His
enemies fearing he would be acquitted,"delivered themselves of a series of fiery
speeches demanding his conviction. On the 19th May the Majlis was to meet to
vote on this question, but many Deputies absented themselves, and in the absence
of a quorum no vote was taken. The President of the Majlis, however, took the
opportunity to remind the Chamber that it had not yet discussed the new Govern
ment’s programme. The debate which followed lasted about two weeks, and was
marked by a number of unusually vigorous attacks on the Government by the
Tudeh and their sympathisers, and" by some spirited rejoinders by their opponents.
The Tudeh criticised the ruling classes and the whole existing social system; they /
made the usual accusations that reactionaries were supporting the feudal tribal
system and arming the tribes in the interests of imperialism. The present
direction of the army was also attacked and Seyyid Zia came in for much abuse.
Better relations and a new treaty with Russia were advocated. The debate,
however, did not materially affect the views of the Deputies about the Government.
The opposition of the Tudeh and of those Deputies who for personal reasons fear
to incur Russian displeasure, could be taken for granted. The bulk of the
remainder, having failed to induce Hakimi to appoint ministers to their liking,
decided that a different Government might give them a better chance of re-election
in the approaching elections. When, therefore, the vote was taken on the
3rd June, Hakimi received the support of only twenty-five Deputies, and
resigned.