'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎5v] (10/96)

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Persian delegate to the Zahidan Conference in 1935,
where, no doubt under strict orders, he took an
extremely nationalistic and anti-British standpoint.
Officially attended Ataturk’s funeral in 1938.
Promoted Brigadier-General April 1939. Inspector
of Cavalry 1942. Commanding the 1st Division
1943.
Speaks French, English, Turkish, and Russian.
His anti-British utterances were no doubt a measure
of prudence, as he is married to an Englishwoman,
nee Bewicke.
Appointed Chief of the General Staff, December
1945. Worked hard to resist “ Tudeh ” activities
and had some success in organising resistance to
the Azerbaijan Democrats and their independent
Government in Tabriz. In consequence he incurred
enmity of the pro-Russian groups and when Qavam
took office in February 1946 with the task of
restoring good relations with Russia, Arfa was at
once relieved of his post. Arrested April 1946 by
order of Qavam-us-Saltnnah. Released October
1946.
18. A s'Ad, Muhammad Taqi (Amir-i-
Jang).
Born about 1906, son of the late 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. As'ad:
a Bakhtiari Khan imprisoned with other tribal
leaders under Reza Shah, released in September
1941. Owns properties near Dizful from where he
was elected Deputy for the 14th Majlis. Was
from the beginning one of the most loyal supporters
of Sayyid Zia. Claims to have influence over Kurds
because he had been sympathetic to Kurdish and
other tribal leaders when in prison with them.
Extremely friendly to the British.
Honest, patriotic and much opposed to the spread
of Soviet influence.
19. Asadi, Salman.
The eldest son of the late Mohammad Vali Asadi,
mutawalli of the shrine at Meshed, who was shot
for treason in 1935. Bom about 1896. Educated
at the American College, Tehran; spent a few years
also at Cambridge and in London; speaks English.
Owing to his father’s influence elected to the Majlis
as member for Seistan for the seventh and eighth
sessions.
Served for a short time in the News Section of
the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as a translator.
In charge of the Department of Propaganda 1941
to March 1942. Under-Secretary at the Ministry
of Food 1942 and worked hard to ensure the food
supply of Tehran with Mr. Sheridan in the famine
winter of 1942-43. Under-Secretary of State,
Ministry of Finance and Head of the Rice Monopoly
April 1944. Member of Economic Section of
Qavam’s Mission to Moscow, February 1946.
Appointed chairman of the Industrial Bank October
1946.
Pleasant, well read and intelligent; but a bit of
an intriguer and rather lazy. Not discreet, some
what given to mis-statement and flattery, and
unstable.
20. A'Azam-Zanganeh, Dr. Abdul Hamid
Born at Kermanshah about 1899, of a well-known
family; his half-brother being Amir-i-Kull.
Educated at Tehran in the Law School and the
Political School. Went to Paris 1929 and obtained
a doctorate in law and economics, his thesis being
on oil; <feas also been in England. 1935 returned
to Persia and was employed in the Ministry of
Education; professor in the Law School. Also a
pleader in the Court, mostly in mortgage-bank
business and agricultural cases. Co-editor with
Dr. Suratgar of the newspaper Iran Javan.
A small and quiet-spoken man; makes a good
impression and seems intelligent.
Deputy for the 14th Majlis for Kermanshah; he
seems to regard himself as elected by the personal
order of the Shah.
21. Azudi, Yadullah (Amir A ( zam)
Born in Tehran about 1890. The son of the late
Nusratullah Mirza, and a grandson of Vajihullah
Mirza Sepahsalar who was the grandson of Fath
Ali Shah. Inherited large estates from his father,
all of which were situated in the neighbourhood
of Damghan and Shahrud. Educated in Persia;
has spent some years in Europe. Married first a
daughter of Hasan Pirnia (Mushir-ed-Douleh), who
died a few years later; he then married a daughter
of Vossugh-ed-Douleh (Hasan Vossugh).
Entered the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1920.
First secretary of the Persian Legation at Berlin
in 1928, and for some time was Charge d’Affaires
there. Chef de Personnel at the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs 1929-30. Counsellor at Washington
1931, and acted as Charg^ d’Affaires there. Minister
at Warsaw in March 1933; but recalled to Tehran
as the result of some scandal dating from his
Washington days the following December. Chief
of the Passport Section of the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, August 1935 (now known as the Consular
Department). Administrative Director-General of
the Ministry, March 1937, until November
Minister of Roads under Qawam-es-Saltaneh
and did well in that post. Resigned early in 1943
partly owing to accusations of nepotism; appointed
Minister to Brazil, and proceeded thither July 1943.
Speaks French and German, and usually very
helpful and forthcoming.
22. Bader, Mahmud
Younger brother of Abdul Wahhab Bader. Born
in 1893. Educated in England. Has been in the
service of the Ministry of Finance since 1910.
Assistant to the Accountant-General at the Ministry
of Finance for a number of years. Chief Accountant
of the Ministry of Public Works October 1928. In
the same capacity in the Ministry of Roads and
Communications 1930. Director-General of the
Ministry of Finance 1933. President of the Iranian
Economic Mission to Germany in July 1935
Succeeded Abolghassem Ferouhar as Under
secretary to the Ministry of Finance in April 1936.
Appointed Acting Minister of Finance on the d«^\i
of Davar in February 1937. Minister of Finanr^v
September 1937 until October 1939, when super
seded by General Amir Khosrovi, head of the
National Bank, with whom he had carried on a
long contest for control of the Government’s
financial operations. M. Bader was said to favour
dealings with Germany.
Minister of Finance in Soheily’s Cabinet 1942,
and in that capacity showed himself helpful in
smoothing over financial difficulties and in nego
tiating currency agreements. Minister of Industry
in Soheily’s Cabinet of 1943, but was not very
successful in settling various wages disputes, and
on Soheily’s forming a new Cabinet in December
1943 he was not included in it.
Minister of Finance in Sadr’s Cabinet, June-
September, 1945. Capable and helpful but exposed
himself to criticism for failing to suppress corruption
and for introducing nepotism which, it was alleged,
flourished in his Ministry on an excessive scale
even by Persian standards.
23. Bahar (Malik-ush-Shuard)
Born in Meshed, 1882. Son of a well-known poet
named Sabouri. A member of the old Democratic
party, and edited a paper in Meshed called the
No-Bahdr. A member of the third, fourth and fifth
Majlises from Meshed, and of the sixth from Tehran.
Edited his paper No-Bahdr in Tehran during the