Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎61r] (121/248)

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Departments concerned with transport have been reorganised and the usual hopes
are held that the future will be brighter. Supplies of tyres and spare parts for
motor vehicles are being received satisfactorily; but lack of maintenance facilities
is still one of the chief handicaps to the proper use of the Government’s fleet of
motor vehicles.
63. With the extra staff at its disposal the Road Transport Administration
.^egan to exert its authority in the provinces. In some places, particularly
^■horassan, it encountered opposition from local officials. In Meshed the
Governor-General and the local road transport officials have developed a very
profitable private racket, which ensures that almost anything profitable will be
transported and very little that is really essential. But as the influence of the
Road Transport Administration increases a diminution in these practices and
an increase in the transport of essential goods may be expected.
64. The movement of civil goods by railway from the south to Tehran
improved considerably, and no anxiety is felt on this score either in connexion
with supplies of oil or of other commodities.
Cereals.
65. It may now be stated with reasonable certainty that there will be no
need to import grain from abroad between now and the forthcoming harvest.
Out of a target of 310,000 tons required to feed the towns approximately 305,000
tons have been collected. There are at present about six weeks’ stocks in the
Tehran silo and over 12,000 tons surplus (almost two months' stocks) available in
the southern region of the country for transport to the capital.
66. The target of 310.000 tons, however, does not include the substantial
reserve necessary to maintain confidence to tide over the period of harvesting
and to provide against the possibility of an indifferent harvest this year. The
failure so far to accumulate this reserve is entirely due to poor deliveries from
the northern region. Deliveries to Tehran from the southern region have, by
totalling 50,000 tons, exceeded expectations. Similar deliveries from the northern
and most fertile region of the country have only just exceeded 17,000 tons instead
of reaching the 40,000 tons which might most reasonably have been expected. The
difference of 23,000 tons, when added to further possible deliveries from the south,
would have constituted a reserve, albeit a small one, with which to start the next
agricultural year. Unless deliveries from the north increase materially during
the next few weeks the Persian Government grain reserve at harvest time is
likely to be insignificant.
67. Lateness of rain, and lack of rain in some areas, have caused anxiety
regarding the forthcoming crop. The profiteers have taken full advantage of this
by raising the free-market price of grain and by spreading exaggerated rumours
of the failure of crops. Well-informed circles have estimated, so far as it is
possible to form an estimate at this stage, that the present crop is unlikely to
exceed 70 per cent, of the last crop.
Locust control.
68. From the beginning of the year until the 23rd March there were no
desert locust swarms in Persia, and the reports received from British Baluchistan
and from Oman had been consistently reassuring. Preparations had therefore
been made for the withdrawal of the Royal Air Force Anti-Locust Flight to
East Africa, the return of the mechanised regiment of the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan Frontier
Force to Middle East Command, and the early withdrawal of the British Locust
Officer from Persia.
69. Between the 23rd and 31st March, however, half a dozen reports have
been received which indicate that three or more swarms of indefinite size are
moving in the Kerman and Eastern Pars provinces. Unfortunately their
appearance was so unexpected that the British anti-locust unit was not able to
attack any of them with D.N.O.C. poison dust as they crossed the coastal area.
The situation is still very obscure, as exact information has not been received
about the size of the swarms or the maturity of the locusts.
70. Mr. Lean at once asked for the retention of the Royal Air Force and
military units, and A.H.Q., Persia and Iraq, have agreed. General Headquarters,
Middle East, however, could only agree to the retention of the mechanised
regiment of the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan Frontier Force until the 10th April, as they are
required for duty in the Middle East Command thereafter.