Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎36r] (71/248)

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^“^4^ to Russia.”
28. The assembly of United States aeroplanes for the Soviet Union at
Abadan ceased at the end of November. The assembly of British aeroplanes
continued at Shaiba but on a very reduced scale.
29. The United Kingdom Commercial Corporation and the United States
Army Motor Transport Service ceased lifting “Aid to Russia" cargo during
^ .the period under review. The United States trucks are being transferred to
other war theatres. Transport of freight through Persia for “ Aid to Russia
is now confined to the railway, except for such freight as can be carried in trucks
assembled in the south for the Soviet army.
^ 30. On the 15th December, 1944, the United States truck assembly plant
for imported cased motor transport was closed down and the plant and equipment
was dismantled and is now en route to the Soviet Union for re-erection in a
Black Sea port, preparatory to the opening up of direct shipping from the United
States to Black Sea ports." The only truck assembly plant now working is the
United States plant at Khorramshahr, and the output from this has been raised
to 5,000 imported trucks per month. There are enough cased motor transport on
hand and en route to keep output at this rate until the end of April, when this
plant will be available for transfer elsewhere. With effect from the 1st January
the British Army vehicle assembly plant at Rafidiya will no longer be required
to assemble cased motor transport for the Soviet Union.
31. From the 1st January, 1945, the port of Bandar Shapur will not be
utilised for discharging “Aid to Russia’’ cargoes as the number of ships is
now so limited that Khorramshahr can easily handle and despatch all “ Aid to
Russia ” cargo now arriving. February 1945 is the latest month in which United
States “Aid to Russia” ships will arrive in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . They will
thereafter proceed to Black Sea ports. It would appear that from the 1st March,
1945, the only ships entering the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. with “Aid to Russia ” cargoes
will be occasional ships from India and Ceylon.
32. A considerable number of United States motor truck and port
operational personnel are now being despatched to other theatres of operation.
33. The supply of motor spirit to the Soviet Union from the Anglo-Iranian
Oil Company refineries at Abadan ceased in November, but the supply of aviation
spirit will continue till the end of June 1945.
American Interests.
34. In the course of their talks with the State Department regarding the
Soviet oil crisis, His Majesty’s Embassy in Washington reported that Mr. Wallace
Murray, who deals with Middle East affairs in the department, was constantly
preoccupied with the fear of Soviet penetration in the Balkans and the Middle
East, and his views about the Soviet Union were increasing his desire to co-operate
with the British on every issue and in particular to consult with the British in
advance on all matters and to concert action.
34a. At the end of December Brigadier-General Booth took over from
Lieutenant-General Conolly the command of the American Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Command.
American Advisory Mission.
(a) Millspaugh Mission.
35. The oil crisis very much overshadowed the Millspaugh crisis during the
period under review and there were fewer attacks upon Dr. Millspaugh. This
was also partly due to the improvement in the economic situation. Much of this
progress was due to the course of the war, though Dr. Millspaugh claimed the
credit in an open letter which he sent to the Prime Minister early in October. In
this letter he stated that everything possible had been done to secure adequate
quotas for imports, that prices were falling, that monopoly goods were being
distributed, that road transport had improved, that a large stock of grain was
in hand and that revenue had increased. He added, however, that as the special
powers in economic matters conferred on him by the Majlis were held by some
to conflict with the Constitution, he intended in future to act in economic as in
financial matters, i.e., under the supervision of the Minister of Finance.
36. Dr. Millspaugh, however, spoilt whatever effect this letter might have
had by sending at the same time a letter M. Ibtihaj. the Governor of the National
Bank* dismissing him from his office. M. Ibtihaj, a clever but very arrogant and