Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎36v] (72/248)

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bad tempered man, had for some time been attacking Dr. Millspaugh, whon^
with the assistance of M. Sa’id and of the Shah, he tried to unseat during a visit
to the United States as Persian delegate to the Bretton Woods Conference. The
Persian Cabinet decided that Dr. Millspaugh had no power to dismiss Dr. Ibtihaj,
and Dr. Millspaugh countered by writing to all the banks informing them that
Dr. Ibtihaj’s signature should not be recognised. This violent action had no
effect; M. Ibtihaj remains in his post and the affair has so far constituted a defea|fc
for Dr. Millspaugh.
37. In December the new Prime Minister found himself under strong
pressure from his supporters among the Deputies to get rid of Dr. Millspaugh
or to rescind his special powers. After negotiations between the Prime Minister
and Dr. Millspaugh a Bill was presented to the Majlis revoking the exceptional
powers under which he administered economic affairs; he would, however, still
retain his original powers in financial matters. This Bill had not been passed
by the end of the year as the Deputies were unable to reach a decision as to who
should inherit the economic powers.
38. Although the Prime Minister would be glad to get rid of Dr. Millspaugh
altogether, he appears anxious to keep the rest of the Millspaugh Mission, and
His Majesty’s Government have instructed this embassy to do everything possible
to secure their retention. Meanwhile that stubborn old gentleman seems to have
given up any idea he had of resigning in February.
(b) Military Mission.
39. General Ridley has gone to America. From confidential sources it is
known that he is to discuss the future of the American Military Mission, whose
contracts expire this spring, and to arrange for the shipment of equipment for
the Persian army. There is a general lack of enthusiasm among the officers of his
mission, a feeling that there is little that they can achieve. They have, in fact,
improved the supply and transport arrangements of the Persian Army, but their
control ceases as soon as issues leave the depots. Even so, a greater proportion
does perhaps reach the man in the ranks than reached him two years ago.
(c) Gendarmerie Mission.
40. The State Department succeeded in persuading the War Department in
Washington of the importance of helping the Persian Government to improve
their police. They did not, however, feel justified in proposing the matter to the
Persian Government; the latter, either of their own accord or at British
prompting, must make a definite request that Colonel Schwartzkopf should take
over the police as well as the gendarmerie, and that additional American officers
should be engaged to train the former. His Majesty’s Government instructed
this embassy to impress on the Persian Government the importance of acting
quickly in the matter. Approaches to the Prime Minister and the Minister of
the Interior have, however, produced no result so far. It may be that the known
hostility of the Russians in the presence of American advisers in Persia makes
the police unwilling to add to the number of such advisers when Persia is already -
being accused by Russia and the pro-Russian Persian press of following a “ one
sided ’ ’ policy.
Anglo-Persian Public Relations.
41. The British and American attitude in readily accepting the Persian
Government’s decision to postpone consideration of the granting of oil concessions
until after the war has reflected to our credit by comparison with the aggressive
reaction of the Russians. The increased fear of Russian post-war designs on
Persia caused by this has not been balanced by any great reliance upon Britain’s
ability to restrain them. It has rather resulted in a general desire to be rid of
all foreign interference in and control over local affairs. The decrease in the
activities of the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation has not attracted
much attention, and public opinion looks forward to the end of the war for a
more general relaxation of all foreign control such as that exercised by the Middle
East Supply Centre over local imports.
42. The Persian press has continued to report favourably upon Allied
successes and, in spite of being very much occupied with reporting local problems,
has devoted just as much space as formerly to the w^ar. The Greek situation
has been much commented upon from both points of view.