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4
disniissed as entirely baseless. Nasir Qashgai is clearly anxious to avert any
action against himself by Persian forces, at least until the tribes have reached
their winter quarters around Firuzabad, when he could hope for more support.
He has telegraphed to the Prime Minister and the Chief of the General Staff
assuring them of his loyalty to Government and promising to come to Tehran in
forty days. It is unlikely that he has any such intention, but in forty days the
tribes will be around him and the war situation will be clearer. He has also been
at some pains recently to convey to the British authorities assurances of hi^ f
friendship.
Russian Affairs.
21. Hjs Majesty’s Consul-General in Meshed states that the Russian
garrison in Meshed now consists of about 1,300 infantry and cavalry and
sixty-seven aircraft.
22. On the 16th August fifty lorries arrived in Meshed from Askhabad
carrying Russian civilians, including women and children. These lorries
returned to Kuchan carrying loads of barley, of which the Russians have recently
bought 2,000 tons in Khorassan.
23. During the week ending the 29th August 140 tons of jute and 14 tons
of gunnies were delivered to the Russians at Kuchan.
24. In reply to a request addressed by His Majesty’s Legation to the Soviet
Embassy for permission for a reconnaissance to be made of the route from
Rowanduz to the southern end of Lake Urmia, and thence by barge across the
lake to the railway at Sheri f Khaneh, with a view to its being used as an
alternative route for supplies to Russia, the Soviet Embassy has answered that
‘ k in existing conditions the flow of supplies to Russia cannot be effected towards
the north-west, and that consequently the route proposed would not serve the
required purpose.” Supplies are, however, still being sent to Tabriz, and there
is as yet no other indication here that it is intended to abandon this route.
In fact, the Soviet Vice-Consul in Tabriz stated that American supplies were
now being sent to the Caucasian front.
Caucasus.
25. A leading Armenian in touch with Soviet officers has informed His
Majesty’s Consul-General in Tabriz that his information is that the majority of
troops in the Caucasus are from Russia proper, that there are large forces in the
Caucasus, and that he believes they are experienced troops. On the other hand,
the United States Consul-General in Tabriz—not a reliable authority—has
reported that all recruits.called up in the Caucasus since June have been enlisted
in units stationed in the Caucasus, that they are unreliable material, and that
the defection of a Georgian division was responsible for the success of a German
break-through on the Stalingrad front.
26. An officer in the Fighting French Air Force has arrived Tehran on
his way to Russia. He says that he is to be followed by a mission of fifteen pilots
and forty mechanics who are to join the Soviet Air Force
American Affairs.
27. Bills have been laid before the Majlis to authorise the engagement of
the Americans, Sheridan and Timmerman, as advisers to the Departments of
Food and Police respectively. The former is to receive 12,500 dollars and the
latter 8.000 dollars a year.
. 28. Schwartzkopf, mentioned in Summary No. 35/42, paragraph 14, as
adviser for the gendarmerie, has the rank of coloneL
Polish Affairs.
29. 43,416 military and 25,699 civilian Poles had arrived in Pahlevi by the
1st September. It is understood that there are to be no more arrivals.
Tehran,
Appendix.
1. Sartip Ghulam Ali Ansari.
Aged about 45. Promoted to present rank in 1941. Previous staff employ
as Director-General of Administration and Artillery. Chief of 3rd Bureau of
General Staff. An intelligent, capable officer with pleasing manners. Speaks
English, French and Russian. Acted for a short time in 1942 as assistant to
General Greely, the American adviser to the Intendant-General’s Department.