Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎361r] (721/807)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJ
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Copy No.
97
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Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—[Received March 7.)
(No. 42.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majesty’s
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 6 for period the 2nd February to
the 9th February, 1942, compiled by the military attache to this legation.
Tehran, February 12, 1942. * 4 /vJb ti
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Enclosure. C= ^e^JL-
(Secret.)
Military Attache s Intelligence Summary No. 6 for the Period
February 2 to February 9, 1942. | ?
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Persian Affairs.
Political and Economic.
THE treaty appears to be gaining increasing support, largely because it is
coming to be regarded as some safeguard against Russia, a view which finds
encouragement in an apparent modification of the Russian attitude since it came
into force. There are, however, probably few Ministers or officials who are not
concerned with preparing the best possible case for themselves in case the Germans
should reach Persia.
2. The press has published articles almost fulsome in their appreciation of
Soviet policy towards Persia, so different from that of Tsarist Russia. Coupled
with this praise is a violent denunciation of those who have tried to arouse
ill-feeling and suspicion among the Persian people as regards Soviet intentions
by creating trouble and disturbances in the provinces occupied by the Red Army.
The correct behaviour of the Soviet troops is very pointedly stressed, and it is
plain that the denunciation is addressed to Soviet political agitators.
3. Economic problems, the distress of the poorer classes and the iniquities
of officials are the subject of many articles in the press. A number of new papers
have appeared, mostly distinctly Left in tone.
4. The Shah has laid the first stone of a new suburb that is to be built on
the site of the village of Nazabad, south of Tehran. A thousand small houses
are to be built, principally for the working classes, at a cost of 85 million rials
to relieve the congestion in Tehran and to reduce house-rents, which are now
very high for the poorer classes.
5. The press has announced that the ex-Shah is to go to Canada,
6. The Minister of Ways and Communications gave an interview to the
press for the purpose of allaying public anxiety regarding the cost of improve
ments in communications now in progress and alleged to be projected. He said
that it was intended to continue the construction of the unfinished lines from
Tehran to Tabriz, Meshed and Yezd and to construct a line from Khorramshahr
to Ahwaz, but that there was no intention to build a line from Kazvin to
Khanakin. The improvements now being made to certain roads for the transport
of supplies to Russia would be paid for by the Allies, as would be the cost of the
railway from Khorramshahr to Ahwaz. The Allies were also paying for all
goods transported by rail at ordinary tariff rates. The transport of "merchandise
and munitions by rail was controlled by a joint Anglo-Soviet-Persian Commission..
[27—44]