Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎207r] (413/749)

3
reinforcements be sent from outside the province. As Persian garrisons in
Azerbaijan are very weak, their actions for the suppression of disorder are not
likely to be effective.
13. His Majesty’s Consul-General in Azerbaijan reports that Persian
officials in Western Azerbaijan profess to have seen recently signs of growing
Soviet hostility to Turkey and that Turkish officials were showing some nervous
ness about possible Soviet plans. (This was before Turkey broke off relations
with Germany.) In Summary No. 26/44, paragraph 3, it was reported that the
Russian-inspired newspaper Darya had accused Turkey of plotting against the
integrity of Persia by claiming that there were in the country minorities with
special affinities with the Turks. The consul-general in Azerbaijan comments
that Turkish officials in that province show remarkably little political activity
and not the slightest evidence of any desire to acquire influence among Persian
subjects of Turki stock.
14. The newspaper Darya, to which reference has been made in previous
Summaries, has ceased publication. Its promoters seem to have decided to
anticipate the suppression that could not have been long delayed having regard
to the strong protests made by the British Embassy against its provocatively
anti-British (but always pro-Russian) tone.
15. In Summary No. 27/44, paragraph 13, some evidence was given of
Russian interest in the Bakhtiari tribe. A party of Russian officers and soldiers
with motor transport was recently noticed at Shalamzar, 20 miles south of Shahr
Kurd, in Bakhtiari tribal country. The purpose of their visit there is not known.
French Affairs.
16. 1,500 Alsatians, who had been conscripted into the German army and
later taken prisoner in Russia, have passed through Tehran from Russia en route
for North Africa.
Polish A ffairs.
17. The Polish Prime Minister, Mikolajczyk, and the Foreign Minister,
Romer, arrived in Tehran from London and left for Moscow on the 30th July.
18. The number of civilian Poles in Persia on the 29th July, 1944, was :—
Men.
Women.
Children.
Total.
Tehran
436
1.561
410
2,407
Isfahan
115
741
1,146
2,002
Ahwaz
126
715
300
1,141
Meshed
2
2
4
679
3,019
1,856
5.554
Tehran, §th August, 1944.