"ملف ١١/ ٤٤ الشخصيات الرائدة في العراق وإيران والمملكة العربية السعودية" [و‎‎١‎٨] (٩٦/٣٥)

31
Political School and in Paris (Doctor of Law). Pro
fessor of Civil Law 1940. Dean of Faculty of Law.
Under-Secretary of State in Ministry of Education
May 1946. Has helped the British Council with
advice on law books. Minister of Education in
Qawain-us-Saltaneh’s Cabinet October 1946.
Friendly but weak and impressionable.
146. Shirvani, Abu Tdlib (Banan-es-
Sultari).
Born in Isfahan about 1899. Educated in the
, local schools, and also for two years at the Church
* * Missionary School. Studied English, but cannot
speak it well. Led a disreputable life in his youth,
joining the famous brigand Riza Khan Jauzani;
- ^ served also under another brigand, Mashallah Khan.
Started the newspaper Mihan at Isfahan in 1919.
On writing an article criticising Major Fazlullah
Khan, the head of the gendarmerie, he was arrested
and whipped by order of the major. In 1921 started
the paper Mihan at Tehran.. His paper was
Nationalists and scurrilous. Published articles
against the Sinclair Company in 1922, doubtless for
a consideration. Deputy for Isfahan in the fifth
and sixth Majlises. Interested in the Khourian Oil
Company. Visited Moscow by invitation in 1927
on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the
revolution. Visited London December 1927.
Became an advocate in the Tehran courts in 1927.
d^^%L!ame again into prominence on the fall of Reza
Shah. Head of the Department of Propaganda
1942, but had to resign owing to hostile criticism in
certain newspapers accusing him (with truth) of
being a Christian. Has claims to land in Fars.
Arrested in Isfahan September 1946 for complicity
in tribal revolt in Fars: released November 1946.
An unprincipled intriguer, quite without scruple
and quite untrustworthy.
4 '
4
147. Siasi, Ali Akbar
Born 1893. Educated in France 1911 and stayed
in France till the outbreak of the 1914 war. Took
a course in pedagogy. Employed as dragoman and
Persian secretary at the French Legation from about
1917 to April 1941. At the same time he was
instructor in psychology and law at the University
of Tehran; later professor. Went to Europe 1927
♦ and took a further course in France, obtaining a
doctorate in philosophy. Married the daughter of
ijne late Bayat, and so acquired wealth. One of the
l^bnders of the French-sponsored “ Young Persian
Club ” in 1921.
Minister of Education, August 1942. Resigned
from Soheily’s Cabinet in August 1943. Dean of
the University of Tehran. Minister without Port
folio in Bayat’s Government 1944.
Member of Persian delegation to San Francisco
Conference, March 1945. Visited United Kingdom
after the conference.
Invited by Soviet Government to visit Tashkend
for the twentieth anniversary of the Science
Academy there, December 1945.
An intelligent man with a perfect command of
French; his outlook is more French than Persian in
some respects. Always polite and agreeable to talk
to. Is also able to make a very good speech in
English.
148. Sipahbudi, Anushirvan
Born in Tehran about 1890. Educated in Tehran.
’ Entered the service of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs in 1907 and worked there till 1910. Vice-
consul at Vladikavkaz in 1910, and thereafter served
• at different posts in the Caucasus till 1918. Then
chief of a section at the Ministry; in charge of the
Protocol Department in 1926. Minister in Switzer
land 1929-33. Under-Secretary at the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, July 1933. At the beginning of
1934 made Minister at Rome, being accredited also
to Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Ambassador at
Moscow, June 1936, until April 1938. Minister,
Paris, July 1938, and also accredited to Spain in
June 1939.
Ambassador to Turkey 1940. Minister for Foreign
Affairs June-October 1945. Minister for Justice in
Qavam’s Cabinet, February 1946. Ambassador in
Paris August 1946.
A man of no particular family, he has made his
way to the top while still young. Speaks French
and Russian. Is quite well supplied with brains,
but is often too lazy to use them. On friendly
terms with Shah. Hates Russians.
149. Sipihr, Ahmad Ali (Muvarrikhu'd-
I)aulah)
In June 1942 he was mixed up in a German plot
involving Qavam-us-Saltanah and Hussain Ali
Qaraguzlu (not the same man as No. 132).
Was Under-Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry at the beginning of 1944. In February
1944 was Acting Minister of Commerce and
Industry for a short while after the resignation of
Nakah’l. He was removed from the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry in the summer of 1944 and
remained without an appointment until August 1945
when he was appointed head of the Caspian
Fisheries, a post which brought him into close touch
with the Russians. Closely associated with Qavam-
us-Saltanah and joined the Cabinet as Minister for
Commerce and Industry in 1946. Dismissed from
Cabinet and banished to Kashan July 1946. Per
mitted to return to Tehran December 1946.
An incorrigible intriguer and corrupt even by
Persian standards.
150. Suhaili, Ali
Born about 1890. Educated partly in Russia
and talks Russian well, also French and a little
English. His career has been in various Govern
ment administrations. In January 1931 was
appointed Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Roads
and Communications under Kazimi. In September
1933 he was transferred to the Ministry for Foreign
as Under-Secretary, when Kazimi was appointed
Minister. Soheily had also served as chief Persian
representative on the board of the Caspian Fisheries
Directorate. Several times Acting Minister for
Foreign Affairs in the absence of his chief. Minister
in London, March 1937. Minister for Foreign
Affairs, May 1938, but dismissed in July, owing to
the late Shah’s displeasure over a telegram concern
ing the Paris Exhibition. Ustandar (Governor-
General) of the VHIth Ustan (Kerman) February
1939. Ambassador, Kabul, October 1939.
Became Prime Minister, rather unexpectedly, in
March 1942, after having been Minister for Foreign
Affairs in Feroughi’s Cabinet from September 1941
(during which time he was the Persian signatory of
the Tripartite Treaty of February 1942). His
Cabinet fell in July 1942, partly owing to lack of
support from the Court and the army. Again
Prime Minister on the fall of Qawam-es-Saltaneh
in February 1943, once more unexpectedly; this
time it was largely because Mu’tamin-ul-Mulk could
not stand and the Majlis did not want the Shah’s
candidate, Saed. Proved himself once more a hard
worker, but carried little weight in the country and
had to maintain himself by various “ combina
tions ” and political deals with Majlis Deputies.
A very reasonable, matter-of-fact person, with a
businesslike manner. Hard working, and a good
deal more approachable than some of his colleagues.
In his contacts with this Legation he has always
given the impression of his willingness to help and
to arrive at a reasonable settlement. He is
notoriously corrupt and has a well-deserved reputa
tion of being a liar. He is quite prepared to agree
to do anything but rarely keeps his word. During
1944-45 he was frequently a strong candidate for
the Premiership, but was suspected by many of
being too well-disposed towards the Russians.