Coll 28/97(1) ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries.’ [‎389v] (778/807)

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Bakhtiari.
15. Abdul Qasim (see paragraph 8 of Summary No. 17/42) has not yet
submitted, but His Majesty’s Consulate, Isfahan, reports that he is disheartened,
that his followers are leaving him and his funds running out. The truth probably
is that the senior Bakhtiari Khans in Tehran, who have probably been investi
gating these disturbances, have become doubtful of the success of their bluff.
Kerman.
16. His Majesty’s Consul reports a deterioration in security. This was to
be expected, as economic conditions in parts of the province are appalling; many
people are dying of hunger.
Foreign Interests.
Russian.
17. Russian officers in Persia do not conceal their suspicions of Turkish
good faith. They profess to see in the arrest .and trial of two Soviet citizens in
Angora, accused of an attempt to murder von Papen, evidence of Turkish
subservience to Germany. These suspicions probably account for the increase of
Russian troops along the Turkish frontier reported in paragraph 14 (c) of
Summary No. 16/42. The numbers there reported were, however, an exaggeration.
18. * It seems clear that the Russians have now withdrawn encouragement
and support from the various clubs and committees of subversive character that
had been flourishing in Azerbaijan. They are now inactive and languishing from
lack of funds. But towards the Kurds Russian policy seems to have some
ulterior motive. Recent events at Rezaieh and their continued refusal to allow
Persian troops to be stationed there or the gendarmerie to be made up to adequate
strength seem to indicate that they have no intention of allowing the Kurds to be
disarmed. They may perhaps hope that they might be useful to them against
Turkey.
19. The port of Bandar Shah (C) has now been dredged sufficiently to allow
of ships coming alongside the jetty. A ship has actually discharged direct to the
jetty.
20. The Soviet Government have delivered 1,000 tons of wheat to the Persian
Government at the port of Naushahr. At the same time they are preventing the
export of food-stuffs from the occupied provinces to other parts of Persia.
21. The Russians secretly moved by night 300 troops from Kazvin to the
Qaleh Morgeh aerodrome in the vicinity of Tehran, which they had already
occupied with air force and transport personnel some time ago. The purpose of
this move is not clear, but it may have been to anticipate a possible occupation of
Tehran by British troops.
A merican.
22. It has been announced that Lease-Lend facilities are to be extended to
Persia and Iraq.
23. An American journalist, Mrs. Burdett, travelling in Azerbaijan, was
killed near Miandoab by Kurds. The Soviet authorities believe that the attack
was instigated by Axis agents, but it is more probable that she was accidentally
killed in a quarrel between Kurds who were accompanying her and a party met
on the road.
24. An American Consulate has been opened at Tabriz. The consul,
Mr. Kuniholm, has stated that he is there expressly to observe Russian policy in
Persia.
Polish.
25. The distribution
of the Poles in
Persia up
to the 4th May was as
follows :—■>
Military—
Pahlevi.
Tehfan.
On Hahhaniya
A hwaz. Route.
Men ... ...
400
1,785
11,106 15.709
Women
(Rear party)
1.205
11 22
Boys
119
1,077
Civilians—
Men
1,703
Women
5,677
...
Children
3,406
...
x