Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎325v] (650/807)

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town is affected by the disturbances in the countryside and robberies have occurred
in the streets. Small armed bands are reported to be operating in the Behbehan
area. . „.
7. In the vicinity of Meshed the situation has improved slightly, but Mrs
Majesty’s Consul-General describes conditions in the country as chaotic,
especially in Kuchan. The Russian commander has agreed to the rearmament
of police and gendarmerie, but refuses to hand back any of the rifles which he has
captured or confiscated or collects from villagers. The Persian authorities have
no confidence that a new issue of arms will not be confiscated on some pretext, as
has happened in other places. They are, however, sending a more energetic officei
to command the gendarmerie with orders to re-establish posts on the road
Meshed-Zahidan.
8 . His Majesty’s Consul at Kerman reports all quiet in that area.
Additional gendarmerie have been sent to the disturbed parts of the Bandar
Abbas-Kerman road where robberies had occurred recently.
9 . His Majesty’s Consul at Tabriz reports that there is improvement in the
town but still disorder in the province. In some parts Government s admimstia-
tion has disappeared, notably south and south-east of Lake Urmia. There are no
police or gendarmerie in Rezaieh or Western Azerbaijan.
10. From Kurdistan there is little reliable information. The 6 th Indian
Division report that a force of about 500 Kurds advanced to within 10 miles of
Senna, but that otherwise there seems to be little change in this area. Further
north, Sauj Bulagh is under the administration of a Kurdish notable, not
ill-disposed to the Persian Government, who has organised his own police force
and is in some degree keeping in check the wilder elements who are pillaging the
countryside along the Turkish and Iraqi borders. The Rowanduz road is now
reported to be unsafe. The situation at Sardasht is obscure; an unconfiimed
report says it is now in the hands of the Kurds.
11. Civil Appointments —
Governor-General of Western Azerbaijan : General Koupal (Personali
ties, Foreign Office, No. 114; Military Attache’s, No. 155).
Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture : Dr. Hamidi.
Persian Government representative with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Com
pany in London : Fathullah Nuri Isfandiari (Personalities, Foreign
Office, No. 96).
Director-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs : Mohammed Ali
Humayun (Personalities. Foreign Office. No. 87).
Persian Army.
12. There is reason to believe that the spread of demoralisation has been
checked and that the number of desertions have been greatly reduced. This is due
in part to the announcement of an increase of pay, and in part to evidence of an
intention to effect reform of the worst abuses. Proclamations have been made
calling up conscripts due for service this year and threatening punishment to all
those absent without permission who have not reported by the 1 st November. The
northern provinces still remain, however, a sanctuary for deserters and closed to
the recruiting authorities.
13. A law which gave to Reza Shah personally, when he was Minister for
War, the absolute command of the forces subject to cancellation by the Majlis
only has now been abrogated. By the Constitution the reigning Shah is
Commander-in-chief of the forces.
14. The Persian Staff College reopens on the 23rd October.
15. Military Appointments —
General Mirjalali to be commander of mechanised forces.
Colonel Ghulam Ali Ansari to be general and to be Director of Adminis
tration of Artillery.
Colonel Atapur. C.B.E., to be a brigade commander in Khuzestan.
Colonel Kaivan to be Military Governor of Kermanshah.
Gendarmerie —
Colonel Khadivi to be Commander of the Gendarmerie in Khuzestan.