"ملف ١١/ ٤٤ الشخصيات الرائدة في العراق وإيران والمملكة العربية السعودية" [ظ‎‎١‎٣] (٩٦/٢٦)

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in Azerbaijan, Kurdestan and Gilan. At Kazvin
in 1920 he became a supporter of Reza Shah and
joined him for the coup d'Etat. In 1922 sent to
France for a three years’ course in flying. In
returning to Persia in 1926 he flew all the way
from Paris to Tehran. Director of the Air Force
in 1927. Suspended from duty and reinstated three
times during 1930—32. Commanded the air force
again from 1933 to the end of 1936. Was considered
the best Persian pilot. Employed in the Ministry
of War early in 1937. Under-Secretary for War
in 1938, and'virtually Minister, owing to prolonged
vacancy in that appointment. Acting Minister of
War throughout the latter part of 1938 and the
whole of 1939 and 1940. Imprisoned and nearly
executed by Reza Shah in a fit of rage during the
attack on Persia in September 1941. Minister for
War in Feroughi’s Cabinet 1941-42. Not employed
in official posts since then; he has had trouble
with one eye. Proposed as Military Attach^ in
London but did not proceed. Appointed Head of
the Air Force in the early summer of 1944. Paid
a formal visit to United Kingdom in November
1944 in connexion with scheme to train the Persian
Air Force on Hurricanes, but was promptly
replaced by another officer. Subsequently visited
America. Appointed Inspector-General of Army in
1945. Transferred General Staff April 1946.
Speaks French and Russian. A gambler, not
very interested in politics. A patriotic and fairly .
dependable person, well-disposed to us and honest.
105. Nasr, Sayyid'All
Born Tehran about 1890, of a well-known
family of Seyyids, one of whom was assassinated
while serving in the Finance Ministry in 1924. A
Government servant whose career has been mostly
in the Finance Department, under which he has
served in Khuzistan and on various inspection
duties. Ministry of the Interior as Assistant, 1943,
and was in charge of the Ministry on the departure
of Tadayyun in December 1943. Appointed
Minister to 'China, January 1944. Promoted
Ambassador when status of Legation was changed
to that of an Embassy in February 1945.
One of the moving spirits in the Persian
repertory theatre at Tehran; in his youth he was
an actor, and has translated and adapted for the
Persian stage a number of foreign plays, including
those of Moliere. Speaks French.
106. Naubakht, Habibullah
Born Shiraz about 1895. Taught in a school at
Shiraz and ran a scurrilous paper there 1920. Then
went to Tehran and was employed in various posts
under the Ministry of Education. Published an
eloquent and extravagant panegyric of Reza Shah
and was elected for Fasa in the thirteenth Majlis.
Opposed the Tripartite Treaty in the Majlis debates
in 1941 and 1942, with a great parade of ultra-
Nationalist and anti-foreign sentiments; having been
struck slightly by another Deputy in a brawl, he
came into the Majlis the next day with a very large
white bandage round his head to make a still more
vituperative speech. Friendly with Abul-Qasim
Kashani and in contact with German agents in
1943, and fled to his friends the Qashqai tribe to
avoid arrest as a suspect, August 1943. Arrested
1943 by the British. Released August 1945.
Opium addict of very many years’ standing.
107. Nikpay, J'zaz (Azizullah)
Born in 1896. Educated by the Church Mission
ary Society at Isfahan and at the American College
in Tehran. Speaks English and French. Started
his career in the Ministry of Finance'. Director of a
large and important mill in Isfahan. Governor of
Kermanshah in 1940-41. Represented factory
owners at International Labour Conference in Paris,
October 1945. Governor-General of Kermanshah
May 1946 when he set himself almost unreservedly
the task of promoting Government interests in face
of increasing Tudeh displeasure. Until the time of
his recall to Tehran, he resolutely pursued his policy
of strengthening Right-wing opposition to the
Tudeh and where unsurmountable opposition was
not encountered, he directed local affairs with
exemplary efficiency. A zealous administrator and
frankly pro-British. Pleasant-spoken and intelligent.
An intriguer, not entirely honest, but thrifty and
capable. Appears to be enlightened on matters
regarding relations of employer and employee.
Political Under-Secretary and Assistant to the
Prime Minister, Qavam-us-Saltaneh, in July 1946;
granted Ministerial rank September 1946 and
Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones under
Qavam-us-Saltaneh in October 1946. Resigned
December 1946 to become a candidate for Isfahan in
the elections for the fifteenth Majlis: was elected
and thereafter reappointed Minister.
108. Nurzad, Ghulam Reza
Born in Tehran about 1880. Educated in Tehran.
Entered the service of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs in 1905 and held different posts in various
consulates in Russia. First secretary of the
Embassy at Moscow in 1922. Counsellor thej^^
in 1924, and later Charg^ d’Affaires. Chief o^^^^
section at the Ministry 1929. Consul-general at
Delhi 1933. Head of the Consular Department,
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, November 1938.
Speaks French and Russian, as well as a certain
amount of English. A rather long-winded person,
but quite harmless.
Consul-general at Stamboul, May 1941. Recalled
July 1943 and appointed head of the International
Relations Department in the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, November 1943. Transferred to the Court
1944. On Committee of Russo-Persian Cultural
Relations Society, 1944.
109. Pahlavi, Shah Muhammad Riza
The eldest son of Riza Shah by the daughter of
Teymour Khan; this lady was the ex-Shah’s chief
consort and was known as the “ Malikeh.”
Born on 26th October, 1919, and proclaimed Yali-
ahd, or heir-apparent on 1st January, 192fi
Educated in Tehran under tutors at first, and tl^^
in Switzerland at La Rosey, under the direction
Dr. Muadab Nafisi. Returned to Persia in the
spring of 1936. Extremely keen on football and
other sports. Speaks excellent French and good
English.
Betrothed in June 1938 and married Princess
Fauzieh, sister of King Farouk of Egypt, at Cairo on
15th March, 1939. The marriage was preceded by a
very pompous journey through Iraq, Syria and
Egypt. The principal wedding festivities took place
in Tehran in April, on the couple’s arrival,.and were
attended by delegations from many countries,
including the Earl of Athlone and Her Royal High
ness Princess Alice, the Duke of Spoleto and
General Weygand. The only offspring so far is one
daughter, Shahnaz, born in 1940. Queen Fauzieh
has been living in Egypt since 1943 and seems un
likely to return to Persia.
Muhammad Reza succeeded to the throne, on the
abdication of his father, in September 1941. He is
determined to interpret literally the provision of the
Constitution which says that the Shah is the com
mander of the armed forces, and has hitherto .
delegated little if any responsibility in army matters
to the Minister for War. As yet he has no male heir
and he has not yet declared any of hi* brothers to be
“ Vali-ahd ” or next in succession to the throne.
His attitude in the riots of 8th December, 1942,
and in the reshuffle of Suhaili’s Cabinet in Decem
ber 1943 showed him to be on the one hand prone to