Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎272v] (544/644)

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of good intentions : observance of existing treaties was one of the first points^
laws were to be revised : the army strengthened : the budget balanced, and food
supplies secured. The Prime Minister’s remarks about the serious food situation
had one unfortunate effect—a number of persons of the upper classes took
precautions to lay in a considerable stock of flour and other food-stuffs against
the coming scarcity; a course of action which sent prices up further still amd made
the Government’s task in the following spring more difficult. The Majlis passed
a Bill against hoarding on the 18th March, and regulations arising therefroi^
were published in May. Three major issues then came into prominence: the^
closing of the Japanese Legation, the arrest of certain Axis agents whose
activities we had discovered, and currency questions, especially the supply of notes
sufficient to tide over the increased demand caused by inflated prices and the
Allies’ war expenditure. The device of a secret session was used to square the
Majlis about the Japanese, vague promises were given us about the Axis agents,
and the currency question was temporarily solved by the issue of 700 million new
notes. The Government then attempted to solve the food problem by obtaining
full powers to deal with problems of food distribution, by acquiring and distri
buting food themselves. A Bill amending the existing conscription law was
brought before the Majlis, but was eventually returned by the Majlis for revision.
Muhammed Sa’ed Maraghai returned from Russia to be Minister for Foreign
Affairs on the 23rd June, and, to the surprise of most observers, Mehd.i Farrukh
was appointed Minister of the Interior on the 2nd July. Opposition to Soheily
was by this time growing apace : Tadayyun and Qawam-es-Sultaneh were very
active in opposition, ugly stories of the Prime Minister’s venality and nepotism
were circulating, and the Adalat party, led by Dashti and Farajollah Bahramy,
did their best to unseat Soheily and replace him by Qawam-es-Saltaneh. Serious
discussions were at this time taking place between His Majesty’s Minister
and the Soviet about the advisability of dissolving the Majlis altogether, but the
Soviet Ambassador finally expressed the opinion that the moment was not
opportune. The Soheily Government finally resigned on the 30th July, and three
days later the Majlis voted for Qawam-es-Saltaneh.
62. (3) Qawam-es-Saltaneh started well by taking a firm line with the
press : he appeared to have more authority and courage - than either of his two
immediate predecessors : and he was evidently anxious to work with the Allies
and remain in office. His programme was short: he stood for the observance of
treaties, for internal security, and for ensuring the supply of food and
medicines for the whole nation. His Cabinet contained two elder statesmen
without portfolio in an advisory capacity, Hakim-ul-Mulk and Mustashar-ed-
Douleh : Sa’ed remained at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Azudi and Haihir
at their respective posts. Finance was left vacant, pending an answer from Taqi-
Zadeh, in London : Kasemi had the Ministry of the Interior till the
22nd August, when he took over the Ministry of Finance, Javad" Ameri
becoming Minister of the Interior. Dr. Siassi was Minister of Education:
Hamid Sayyah, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs; Baha-ul-Mulk Minister of
Justice; Dr Aram-ul-Mulk Minister of Health; and Adi remained at the
Ministry of Agriculture. Ihe new Prime Minister himself took over the difficult
postofMmister of War, thereby involving himself in a dispute with the Chief
of the General Staff and with the Shah himself, which developed into a struc'o'le
for control of the Ministry and finally led to Qawam’s downfall The new
Prime Minister showed a helpful and firm attitude in the question of the handing
over of certain suspects whom he had reason to believe were supporters of the
Axis and he finally talked the Majlis into having them transferred to Sultanabad
for detailed interrogation by a mixed body of investigators. A Bill increasim*
still further the note issue, was passed on the 12th September, just avoiding in
the nick of time, a. majoi financial crisis. 1 hese issues were, however only settled
to our moderate satisfaction after the Prime Minister had been squarely informed
that we should judge the sincerity of his Government by the way in which it dealt
with these questions, and after a direct warning also to the Shah. Subsequently
a declaration of support for the Allies was made. Inspectors were appointed in
order to remedy and prevent abuses and irregularities by Government officials
and broadcasts by Qawam about the Government's resolve'to govern energetically
in co-operation with the Allies were well received. At the end of September
Qawam appointed Farrukh as Minister of Food ; an unfortunate appointment
as the new Minister was scatter-brained and temperamental. Majlis opposition
obliged the Prime Minister to withdraw the Conscription Bill for further study
and the resignation of the Chief of the General Staff, Morteza Yazdan Panah’
although not accepted, was a further mark of the growing dissatisfaction”with