Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎70r] (139/248)

[50—50]
c
9
Industry.
35. Mining and industrial enterprises in general continue to suffer from the
shortage of road transport, which is undoubtedly having a restricting effect on
both Government and private enterprises. There has also been a very noticeable
tendency towards labour unrest in various factories throughout the country. A
further cause for disquiet is the acute shortage of sulphur. There has been no
production of this important raw material for the last five months and one factory An East India Company trading post. ,
aie Parchin Acid Factory An East India Company trading post. , has been closed down in consequence, while the shortage
of sulphuric acid is gradually making itself felt throughout the majority of the
main Persian industries. The sulphur mine at Semnan has now been restarted,
but to date it has only produced half a ton per day, instead of the five or six tons
which is necessary.
36. The sardine factory An East India Company trading post. at Bandar Abbas is in full production, and the
problem now is that of maintaining an adequate supply of olive oil and of trans
porting the output.
Imports and Exports.
37. The latest available official figures for imports and exports are for the
month from the 22 nd April to the 22nd May, 1943. They show that imports totalled
95 1 million rials, or 7,023 tons (exclusive of duty-free goods); and that imports
admitted in franchise at Customs amounted to 68-1 million rials, or 7,205 tons.
The total exports for the same period, exclusive of oil, were 55-8 million rials, or
11.329 tons.
Anti-Locust Campaign.
38. There has been quite a substantial change in the locust situation. In the
summer an international conference in Tehran decided to set up defence in
South-East Persia against swarms from India. It has now transpired,
however, that very few swarms are likely to emanate from that quarter, and that
the invasion is most likely to come from Arabia. The British anti-locust units
between Task and Lingeli will probably have a hard campaign ahead, as the
swarms from Arabia will be more difficult to kill by contact dust from aeroplanes
since they are expected to enter on a wide front.
Persian Army.
39. In the reshuffle of the Cabinet General Amir Ahmedi was dropped from
the Ministry for War and replaced by the Shah’s nominee, a civilian official of
his court, Ibrahim Zand. During his tour of office General Ahmedi had given
to us whole-blearted, if not always effective, co-operation, and to the American
Military Mission a measure of support with which General Ridley was well
satisfied. Thereby he incurred the hostility of the Russians, and by his energetic,
if not always tactful, exercise of authority over the army he aroused the suspicion
and jealousv of the Shah, who accused him of attempting to be commander-in-
chief as well as Minister for War. The Shah does not weaken in his determination
to be the effective commander of the army and to allow no authority to be
established there that is not completely subservient to himself. In this, as has
• been mentioned above, he claims to have found encouragement in his private
interview with Marshal Stalin. The Shah is now acting as the commander of
the army. He issues orders direct to the Chief of Staff without reference to the
Minister for War, and to the Minister for War and even to individual officers
through his military secretary. It is the Shah’s desire that the General Staff
should again be independent of the Ministry for War and that the functions of
the latter should be limited to supply and administration.
40. On the other hand, the Shah, according to General Ridley, has recently
shown a more sympathetic attitude towards the American Military Mission and
has insisted that an urgent request should be sent to the American Government
for at least nine more officers. I fear that this enthusiasm for the American
mission is inspired mainly by the Shah’s realisation of the fact that equipment
and supplies for the army are not likely to be forthcoming from America unless
it is evident to the British and American authorities that the American advisers
are being given support in their task. In the decree he recently signed defining
the duties and responsibilities of General Ridley and the officers of his mission
he was, however, careful to limit their functions to the giving of advice in matters
of administration without investing them with any authority to ensure compliance
with that advice.