Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎613r] (1228/1237)

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THIS DfOCUMBNT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT ljUrO.
PERSIA.
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CONFIDENTIAL. 7 ■ A 1
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November 27, 1941.
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Copy No. 94
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—(Received November 27.)
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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 Tabriz despatch No. 44 of the 20th October, 1941 : Report on
situation in Tabriz.
Tehran, November 3, 1941. Gr/. .
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STr R. Bidlard (Tehran). ^/flL
Tabriz, October 20, 1941.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that the general situation at Tabriz
continues to improve gradually, and that, while no one pretends to do other than
dislike the Russian occupation still, the feeling of nervousness and unrest is
diminishing. In part this may be due to the fact that many Soviet troops have
undoubtedly returned to Russia, as well as tanks, armoured cars and equipment,
and there are even comforting rumours that before long all the Soviet forces in
Persia will retire, and small garrisons of British troops will take their place
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Consul Cook zo
(No. 44.
Sir,
Confidential.)
in the north. i t, u
2. On the other hand. Major-General Novikoff has now returned to I abriz
from Tehran with his staff, and tells me that he is commander-in-chief of all
Soviet forces in Persia. Apparently a Russian garrison will remain at Kasvm,
where liaison with the British forces will be maintained.
3. Major-General Novikoff told me that agreement had been reached with
the Tehran authorities regarding the re-establishment of law and order in this
part of the country by means of the Persian gendarmerie, and that no obstacles
will be placed in the way of the local authorities in their efforts to restore proper
order, provided that they act in an honest and helpful manner. This, if really
meant, is reassuring news, since a new colonel of Persian gendarmerie has just
arrived, and is setting about his task of restoring his services in Azerbaijan,
beginning with the small towns near Tabriz, and intending to get those of
Rezaieh on a proper footing as soon as possible. He called on me and asked for
my co-operation; I have accordingly recommended his good intentions to various
Russian civil and military authorities during recent discussions with them.
4. News from the Kurdish districts continues to be somewhat disquieting,
but may of course be exaggerated. The districts now mentioned as scenes of
particular atrocities are Saggiz and I shnu. The Kurds are said to have been
using handsaws to murder their victims, who no doubt include some of the hated
former gendarmerie. On the other hand, the news from the well-known towns in
Azerbaijan along the main routes is not bad, although there is undoubtedly a
feeling of general insecurity in the country districts, where not only Kurd but
ordinary local Robin Hoods are ranging the villages and mountains, exacting toll
of rich and not-so-rich alike. The"landowners cower in the towns listening to
talks of the seizure of their wheat, barley and other produce in the villages by
their Moslem tenants, and to stories of the Russian troops’ pillaging of
warehouses, stores and private houses in the towns. They have their carpets,
jewellerv and valuables all ready packed, and as opportunity offers flee to Tabriz
and thence to Tehran. Even if no harm befalls them, they live in a perpetual
[24—96]
13 JAN 942
INDIA OFFICE The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.