Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎320v] (640/749)

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Persian Forces.
Gendarmerie.
6. A recent reform of Colonel Schwarzkopf is proving of doubtful value.
He considered rightly that small posts of four men were an easy target for
robbers. One of the inmates of these small posts was usually absent, one was not
uncommonly sick, one had gone to extract supplies from a nearby village and
the remaining custodian was normally asleep. The post and its arms there for
were an easy prey. He decided to scrap the small posts and concentrate his men __
in platoon posts at greater distances apart. A deficiency of M.T. and a failure
to keep roadworthy the little transport that they have has defeated Colonel
Schwarzkopf's plans. The posts are now not infrequently 30 miles apart and,
as they have not the means of patrolling, the intervening stretches of road are
a happy hunting ground for bandits.
A 'p'pointments.
7. —(i) Allahyar Saleh (F.O. 198-M.A. 253) to be Minister at Washington;
(ii) Bakhuda to be head of the Propaganda Department in place of
Safavi dismissed. (Safavi's name will be recalled in connexion
with the recent broadcasting incident when, judging that the
Russians were making improper use of broadcasting facilities to
attack the Persian Government, Safavi closed down the trans
mission) ;
(iii) Sartip Abdul Ali Ittemad Muqoddam to be Military Governor of
Tehran vice Sarhang Baharmast.
Internal Security.
b ars.
8. Three gendarmes were recently shot dead by a Qashgai band on the
road between Khan-i-Zinian and Dasht Arjin. This murder is said to be in
revenge for an affray which took place near Ardekan of a month ago.
9. The Tudeh party recently opened a club at the sugar factory An East India Company trading post. at
Mervdasht. On the 9th August a crowd incited by local landlords and the
Democrat party attacked and burnt the club. The Majlis Deputy Muaddel is
suspected of implication as one of the chief landlords of the district. Two
mullahs are also reported to have been sent by Qavam-ul-Mulk to stir up anti-
Tudeh feeling.
Kurdistan.
10. Security on the Senneh-Kermanshah road is deteriorating and two
incidents of highway robbery have taken place recently. In one of the incidents
two British employees of the Kermanshah Petroleum Company were the victims.
According to a senior officer of the Gendarmerie recently arrived from these parts,
the closing down of a number of small Gendarmerie posts has facilitated the task
of the bandits.
Azerbaijan.
11. The situation in Azerbaijan has deteriorated sharply during the past
week. On the 11th August a gang of Tudeh agitators visited the village of
Likhvan near Tabriz and attempted to incite the peasants to withhold the land
lord’s share of the harvest in accordance with the Tudeh programme of agrarian
reform. The landlord, Intisham, and his supporters interrupted the agitators
and beat them. A partv of Tudeh said to number 200 and to be armed with
revolvers and daggers, then went to the village where a fight ensued. The
proprietor, his grandson and a servant were killed by the gang. The Tudeh on
their side suffered casualties amounting to 4 killed and several wounded. The
landlord’s son was taken away captive to Tabriz. On their return to Tabriz the
Tudeh ordered the closing of all Government departments and shops in mourning
for their dead. A request by the Ministry of War to despatch troops from the
capital in answer to an appeal for reinforcements by the G.O.C. Tabriz has been
refused by the Russians. A Commission of Enquiry has been allowed to proceed.
It comprises General Amanullah Jehanbani (recently returned from his inspection
of the Kurdistan operations), Brigadier Khosrow Panah (Chief of the
Gendarmerie), Ahmadi (a former Governor of Tabriz), and a Colonel Taras of
the Persian General Staff.