Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎352v] (704/807)

2
(iii) Colonel Baha-ed-Din All, now head of the Sepah (Army) Bank, to
change posts with Colonel Ali Farah, now Treasurer of the Army (Military
Attache 83).
(iv) Nadir Arasteh (32) (26) to be Governor-General of Mazanderan and
Gilan.
(v) Farzin Mohd. Ali (91) (69), Minister of the Court, has died. 4
(vi) Ali Mansur’s (164) (120) appointment as Governor-General ol
Khorassan (see Summary No. 1/42, paragraph 2) was mentioned to the Soviet
Ambassador before it was announced. He then raised jio objection. He has
now notified the Government that it is undesirable that Ali Mansur, who was
on the point of departure, should go.
(The first figures refer to Military Attache’s, and second to Foreign Office,
Personalities.)
internal Security.
Northern Provinces.
6. The situation in Persian Azerbaijan has further deteriorated. The
Persian Governor has been driven out of Urumieh and it seems that all semblance
of Government authority has disappeared, and that the Nijat Committee is now
in control of the town. There was fighting between Kurds and the Amnieh, and
it seems certain that the Russian troops stationed in Urumieh did nothing to
help the Persian forces. It seems impossible that these events should have
happened without the approval of the Russian authorities. Further details of
k<i 5 f’h e situation are expected shortly, as His Majesty’s Consul in Tabriz is visiting
tt : ~ u ^— a —"'-'‘nn has been received of the turbulence of the Khalkhalis,
to have taken possession of the small town of Hirabad,
Ardebil. The report mentioned in last week’s Summary
cUdCr to of an incursion of armed Karadaghis into Persian Julfa was exaggerated. It
I * is nearer the truth that a band of some 300, some armed, did enter the town
. wearing red arm bands and declaring themselves Communists.
7. In Mazanderan there is some brigandage and a great deal of discontent
arising from the failure of the Government to take any measures for the
settlement of the ex-Shah’s estates, which comprise almost the whole province.
Pars.
8. In Pars the situation at the moment is quiet. Minor robberies occur in
the outlying districts, but the Shiraz-Bushire road seems to be fairly well secured.
Opinions as to the possibilities of the situation vary. On the one hand, there
are some who profess to anticipate serious tribal trouble in the spring. There
are no signs of any possibility of a combined movement by the Arab Khamseh
tribes, though hunger may drive them to robbing, and serious trouble could only
come from the Qashgai led by Nasir. There is little doubt that Nasir is trying
to establish himself as recognised head of the tribe, but there is no evidence yet
that the main sub-tribes—the Darashuri, Farsimaidan, Shishbuluki and
Kashquli—have any desire to put themselves under his leadership. Nasir is,
however, being exhorted by political intriguers, with no particular object except
to trouble the waters, to follow the patriotic traditions of his father.
On the other hand, a fairly reliable informant with an extensive knowledge
of the tribes says that on the whole there is no desire to make trouble. The whole
tribe has suffered greatly in recent years from rapacious officials. In spite of
attempts to make it settle, it is still almost entirely nomadic. Given decent
conditions, numbers would be prepared to settle. The main sub-tribes have no
desire to combine again under one leadership. Hunger may drive some to
robbery, but, given reasonable freedom from extortion and an opportunity to
redevelop their greatly depleted flocks, the tribe, in the opinion of this informant,
is not likely to cause trouble. More food seems to be here, as elsewhere in Persia,
| the first essential of stable conditions.
Kurdistan.
9. The Russian attitude towards the Kurds has thrown the Persian
Government into confusion as regards the policy they should themselves adopt.
Events at Urumieh and a report, which they are convinced is correct, that six