Coll 28/97(2) ‘Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎74r] (147/252)

No* * 71/4 ^8
POLITICAL.
MILITARY ATTAGHiil - TEHRAN
SlMiARY (PERSIA) No*4^ of 19^8
i
^ Pol(
I
4
v.-
1» Government vote of confidence.
The debate on the Government programme which began on 22nd
November continued until 8th December when the Government obtained a vote
of confidence with 56 votes in its favour, 1 against and 38 abstentions*
This is generally considered scarcely to constitute a proper working
majority and does not promise well for the future of the Government* A
proposal made a few sessions earlier to bring the debate to an end was
defeated when put to the vote, and the debate dragged on. During its
course the Prime Minister was called on to take im;mediate steps to restore
Persian sovereignty over Bahrein and it was suggested that, if diplomatic
approach failed to bring about any result, the Persian Arn\y be used to
f: secure the island* A later speaker strongly criticised the policy of
neutrality followed by successive governments in their foreign affairs and
i said it had resulted in no benefit to the country* He demanded that Periia
• join the bloc with which its interests really lay* The next speaker
| disagreed with this view, but said he was opposed to the grant of
| concessions to any foreign power, and objected to the renewal of the
concession to the Imperial Bank, These utterances should be regarded
j more as the irresponsible thoughts of individual Majlis members than as any
organised plan directed against foreign, or in particular British, interests
in Persia* Winding up the debate the Prime Minister said his government
would do everything possible to implement the Y-yoc.r plan in order to raise
the standard of living and provide work for the people*
2^ Cabinet changes.
Several changes in the Cabinet have already been made,
following the resignations reported in para 1 of M.A*s Summary No.18, and
criticism of some of the appointments during the Majlis debate. Muhammad
Sajjadi, originally appointed to the post of Minister of Education in
Sa’ed’s Cabinet has been changed to the portfolio of Cummunications in
place of Dr Iqbal who replaces Dr Alam in the Ministry of Health. Abdul
Hamid Zanganeh becomes Minister of Education In place of Sajjadi* The
post of Minister of Justice has not been filled as thcr Prime Minister’s
choioe refused it* Pending the appointment of a Minister of the Interior
the Prime Minister will himself hold the post, assisted by Dr Iqbal.
3• Proposal to revise I ajlis status.
On 7th December a proposal was tabled with double urgency
by several deputies for a revision of the Majlis rules of prooedure. The
proposal includes a reduction in the number of votes required to constitute
a quorum, and a time limit for speeches. In view of the length of several
of the speeches in the recent debate, and the numocr of times that voting
cannot take place owing to the lack of a quorum, these proposals appear to
have sound reason behind them* Accusations that the proposal will rob the
opposition of its traditional rights and that the Constitution is being
destroyed have, however-, been made, and certain sections of the Press are
against it. Voting on the proposal has not yet taken place, as after
debating it, the JM.jlis lost its quorum before votes could be taken-*