Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎361v] (722/807)

2
Internal Security.
Kurdistan.
7. Persian troops have occupied Saggiz, it is believed with little or no
opposition. The Persian authorities had previously announced the appointment
of a Kurdish notable, Saifullah Khan Ardalan, as Governor of Saggiz and it is^
understood that, previous to the advance of the troops, he had entered into son.
negotiations with the Kurds. Saifullah Khan is a son of the late Hussain Khan,
Muzaffer-es-Sultaneh, and nephew of Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Rashid, who was imprisoned in
Tehran by Reza Shah. He is also his stepson, as Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Rashid married his
brother’s widow.
8. In addition to Saifullah Khan, other Kurds are also exercising authority
on behalf of the Persian Government. Mahmud Kanisanau was some time ago
appointed Governor of Merivan; Qazi Mohamed continues to function in Sauj
Bulagh with the nominal approval of the Persian Government, and Amir Azad
is said to have been asked to undertake responsibility for the Mamish tribe.
Haji Baba Sheikh, who has political and religious influence in the country west
of Saggiz-Sauj Bulagh, and who was one of the Kurdish notables taken to Baku
by the Russians, has arrived in Tabriz and has telegraphed to the Minister of
the Interior to the effect that he wishes to visit him and offer his services. Other
attempts by the Persian Government to give authority to Kurdish chiefs have
been nullified by local jealousies.
9. Much has been heard recently of the grievances of the Persian Kurds.
The more obvious of these date back for some fifteen years. Previous to that the
grievances were rather against the Kurds—at least certain tribes who had been
for generations the scourge of the countryside. The real grievances of the Persian
Kurds to-day are for the most part those common to all Persian subjects who
have suffered from the tyranny and corruption of officials and the general over
taxation of recent years. For those they may, in common with other Persian
subjects, legitimately demand redress. But the Kurd has also regarded it as a
grievance that he should be required to pay revenue, be subject to conscription
and be prevented from smuggling and illicit trading. Although there may be
arguments for preferential treatment of the Kurds in some respects, as there may
be for special policies in certain other parts of Persia, to make obvious exceptions
in the case of the Kurds would lead to an outcry for similar treatment from all
other tribes and self-styled minorities.
Kermanshah.
10. There is considerable improvement in security in this province, the
more troublesome tribes—the Kakavand, Ahmadavand and Khalkhanis—having
come to heel. The general officer commanding states that rifles are being collected
in satisfactory numbers. He considers the situation sufficiently settled to justify
his coming to Tehran for “ medical treatment.” The real reason is probably to
see what his rival for the dictatorship of Persia, Sipahbod Ahmadi, the Minister
of the Interior, is doing.
A zerbaijan.
11. Further details have been received from His Majesty’s Consul at Tabriz
of the situation at Urumieh and in the district. In the town order was maintained
by Russian patrols; the Nijat Committee had dispersed or gone to ground; there
was little evidence of Persian authority or administration and, apart from keeping-
order, Russian officials did not concern themselves with the administration. The
police and gendarmerie, in too-small numbers to be effective, were entirely
demoralised. In the district there were no evidences of Government authority;
there were no gendarmes outside the towns; the landlords did not dare to go to
their villages to collect their dues; sowing was at least 25 per cent, short of
normal. A “no-tax” campaign is in full swing. While these conditions are
to a large extent due to Persian maladministration, they are difficult to remedy
while the Russians impose an inadequate limitation on the number of police and
gendarmerie that may be maintained and at the same time covertly encourage
the lower classes in their revolt against the landlords and officials. The Soviet
authorities still refuse to allow Persian troops to be sent to Urumieh.