Coll 29/107(1) 'Hamadan: monthly diary' [‎34r] (68/105)

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at the elections, his chances of success are poor.
MQHA]©£S i : ^BDUL j'J-DiD I.L-lKSRiT arrived in Hama dan on 14th May
to replace MQNTAZAlril as Director of the Roads Department.
5» Dr. P.JIIDT arrived in Hamadan on 2Cth May to take over
control of the Health Department from Dr. GHOLIiiALHH, .vho had been "acting"
since the departure of the former Chief, Dr. SHaDOOSH, on December 11th,
1945.
Captain MOHAiffl.IAD TAG HI PATHPOQR, O.C. Gendarmerie, left his
post during the month and returned to Tehran.
Lalayer.
7 • The Governor, MOBASS .R R0.7SI AI\ T , v/ho went to Tehran in Llarch,
(para. 10 Llarch Diary.} is not expected to return. Various conjectures
have been made as to his successor, and names mentioned include GKOLAM
HOSSiLiH KHAN QARAGOZLU (RKTESKAiu-UD-DO.'/TiEH), but reports on this subject
are very vague. Ileanvdiile, in the absence of a Governor, the Tudeh party
is flourishing in llalayer. MOVVLAVIZADEil and LOTPALIAN (para. 11 Larch Diary)
are actively intriguing in the hopes of securing the return at the polls of
a Tudeh member - M0SADEGH1, who was defeated at the last elections. But the
position of MALIK KADAHI, who has been for twenty years Llajles deputy for
Malayer, has not been seriously threatened, and the numerous influential
people working on his behalf include his brother, AKIN MADANT.
Nehavand.
8 . The chief troubles here are economic rather than political,
as the Tudeh are comparatively weak. The abundant produce of this extremely
fertile area is in the hands of a few unscrupulous men, who by their
extortions from the peasants and the maintenance of high prices provide a
permanent breeding-ground for agitators and malcontents. MOHASSEl.lT, whose
position in charge of the Finance, Supplies and 7/heat Departments is
virtually unassailable, and AHMAD ISFANDIARI, a member of the Municipal
Council, have a tight grip on the Municipality, which is unable to lower
the price of meat and other essential foodstuffs. Mohassemi has been in
Nehavand for five years, steadily consolidating his position, and defying
all attempts to uproot him. The succession of inspectors sent from Tehran
to investigate the situation have all returned satisfied with their bribes
and consequently satisfied, for the purposes of their reports, that no action
is required. This year there will be good crops of opium, tobacco, and
most varieties of fruit and grain. Almonds and walnuts will, hov/ever, be
below nomal. Opium growers are worried about the Government* s policy to
stamp out opium smoking, because if it is strictly enforced they will have to
hand over a larger proportion of their crops to the government. This will
entail a cut in their black-market profits.
9. The headquarters of the Gendarmerie for the "Selas" - Kalayer,
Nehavand and Tuiserkan - has been transferred from Malayer to Nehavand, and
Captain MEHJilR, formerly O.C. Gendarmerie in Hamacan, is now in charge there.
Tuiserkan.
10. ZAF.LR-ES-SOLTAN, the Majles deputy for the "Selas" elected
from Nehavand, is unlikely to stand again for the 15th Majles. Since there
is no other suitable candidate in Nehavand, a "Tuiserkan Commission" has
been formed in Tehran to agitate for the nomination of a candidate for the
Tuiserkan itself. But it is fairly certain that whoever finally stands must
co-operate with Malek adani if he wishes to be successful.