"مجموعة ١١٢/٢٨ب بلاد فارس. تبريز. رسائل موجزة شهرية عن الوضع الداخلي في أذربيجان وشؤون متنوعة: تقارير". [و‎‎٨‎٧] (٤٥١/١٧٤)

however fUlly determined to ensure that the political storm of the past
few months will be replaced by the fair winds of a progressive and construct
ive Government policy and not by the doldrums of inefficiency i&nd starnation
which they exnerienced under the Central Government in the past. The
Governor-General and his officials are being prodded persistently by all *
sections of the community to "get on with it" and are being given no rest.
At the same time a "whispering campaign" has been initiated by opponents of
the prime Minister to the effect that he is abrogating all power to himself,
that "nothing is being done" in Azerbaijan, that there is a lamentable lack
of security and that bribery and corruption are already in evidence.
3. I have had several talks with pimiya, with All ^ansur, with the
General Commanding the Azerbaijan Division (Zarrebi) who took over from
General Hachimi on January 1st, and with the civil governor of Tabriz. These
Officials, especially pimiya, have studied the position in the province
carefully and they have sound ideas as to what is to be done and how it is
to be done. A change of r%ime, such as Azerbaijan has just exnerienced,
implies, necessarily, all the delay and confusion of re-adjustment, and the
bulk of the peonle are willing to concede to the Government a reasonable
period within which to prove their sincerity and capabilities. It is fully
realised that a netum to normal ard the holding of elections cannot be exnact
ed until the Government is master in its own house, and the disarming of
the peasantry (who like to keen a rifle because "it makes them feel safe")
and of the Kurds in astern Azerbaijan is no easy task.
4. Meanwhile let us see, in brief, what has been done during January.
This may be summarised as follows*
(a) a combing out of unreliable elements in Government office was begun
with a view to establishing public confidence in the integrity of
the state officials,
(b) a charitable committee has been appointed, under the auspices of the
"Hm and ^ed Lion" to collect funds for the poor* and provision has
already beep made for the support of S5 r destitute persons in Tabriz.
i
(c) Arrangements have been made to extend, shortly, loans to landowners
and factory owners.
( d) The Ministry of Agriculture is taking steps to secure agricultural
/ machinery