Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎298r] (595/749)

Vo.43/26/45.
British wbasay r
I SERA.'I.
8th July 1945.
yott YES i-iJUOP ana JPUt 10 8th JUl.; 1945.
?^U>IAK 4, fAlBS>
PoXltioftl#
!• In «pit« of tho Shah 1 a appeal to the re present a tires
of the aajorlty and minority parties to ooae to a compromise In
the interests of the country the minority continue to prerent
the presentation of the Govornment to the Majlis by absenting
themselves and so reducing the number present below the necessary
quorum# The legal quorum is fixed at two-thirds of the number
of deputies present in Tehran, and the majority Is still a few
short of this number# Some of the deputies of the minority Who
rote according to Russian instructions from fear and not from
conviction had agreed to leave Tehran so as to reduce the ms&er
required for a quorum, but they got a very plain hint from the
Russians of the dangers they would run in doing so#
i 2 # itiblic opinion has been greatly disturbed by a statement
broadcast by Ankara Hadio, allegedly on the authority of a Reuter
message, to the effect that an important element in the solution
of the Dardanelles problem was the annexation to Russia of Persian
AsarbalJ&n, which had been demoded by a Committee of the province*
I The whole Tehran frees is loud in protest# It is said, with truth,
that there is no C ok* It tee in Azerbaijan that could make such a
demand, and, perhaps with less truth, that there is no Azerbaijani
who would# The Turks are reproached for giving publicity to such
a misohisvous statement# The Tudefc frees hints plainly that it
is a British trick to spoil Russo—Persian relations# One paper
save that although there may be Justification for reconsideration
of the frontiers fixed after the last war no such considerations
apply to F 0 rsla v 8 northern frontier which has been unchanged for
120 years#
3# Seyyid 2 la, in a recent speech to his party, the Iradeb-
1—Mllll, made some very outspoken criticisms of Kuselen actions
in Persia# He said that Russian officials had openly interfered
In the elections in the N'orthj that Russian troops had intimidated
the people into Voting for the candidates of Thoselan choice and
had deported their opponents* He accused the deputies who had
been elected with Russian help of trying to wreck constitutional
government and of undermining Persia** Independence! of erganizinr
violent demonstrations that resulted in the loss of human life;
of attempting to terrorise all those who stood for Persian indepen
dence or epooeed ecuwntsa# He said that they opposed the evacu
ation of Persia by Allied troops because they*knew that their
political life would end with the withdrawal of Russian armed
support# The Tudeh Press, having little to say In defence of
Russian activities in lersla, baa counteracted with the usual x
violent attacks on Seyyid 21a and on the British. To discredit
;-eyyitf 21a It publishes the report that he had an Interview with
General Paget during the latter*a recent visit here#
4# The delegation from the * workers Gnion* 0 f H.o*G#a.
has arrived la Tehran in response to the invitation extended by
the/