'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎6r] (11/96)

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war of 1914-18, and was pronouncedly pro-German.
Nevertheless, he supported Vossugh-ed-Douleh’s
Cabinet of 1918-20 during which time he edited
the Iran newspaper. Opposed the Government
during the term of the fifth Majlis and was an
opponent of the change of regime. An attempt was
made on his life when the debate on the change
of regime took place in the Majlis; but another
unfortunate man who resembled him was the victim.
Seyyid Hasan Mudarris helped him to get elected
to the sixth Majlis.
Nothing much was heard of him during Reza
Shah’s reign, except that he composed some odes
in celebation of the Firdausi centenary in October
1934, and translated into Persian verse a poem by
John Drinkwater on that occasion. He has been
exiled from Tehran on more than one occasion.
In spite of a fondness for opium has been fairly
active at Tehran since the change of rdgime in
1941. Up to August 1942 he and Massoud Sabeti
actively supported Qavam-es-Saltaneh’s candidature
for the post of Prime Minister. After the latter’s
fall early in 1943, he obtained newsprint from the
Russians with which he kept his paper No-Bahdr
going, and published a series of articles apparently
critical of but really supporting Qavam. In fact
a shifty and over-subtle politician.
Acknowledged to be a leading poet, and a practical
spaper writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. . He himself maintains that he
if &bove all anti-Russian but has been associated
with the Tudeh for some years. On Committee
of Russo-Persian Cultural Relations Society, March
1944.
Minister of Education in Qavam’s Cabinet,
February 1946, dropped when Cabinet was re-formed
in August 1946.
24. Bahrami, Farajullah (Dabir-i-A ‘zam)
Born about 1890. A member of a well-known
and numerous Tehran family. Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. or secretary
to Reza Shah before and after his accession to the
throne in 1925. Was appointed member of a
commission of examination in connexion with the
Lionosoff Caspian Fishery claim, but resigned from
that position.
Lost the Shah’s full confidence in about 1927,
and was sent abroad to take charge of the Persian
students in Europe, at Paris, Berlin, &c. Returned
^Persia about two years later. In July 1930
'^appointed Governor of Isfahan, and a year later
Governor-General of Fars. Minister of Posts and
Telegraphs in March 1932. Resigned on the fall of
the Hedayat Cabinet in September 1933, and was
sent to Meshed as Governor-General in the following
January. Superseded as Governor-General of
Khorasan in October 1934, for reporting that
adequate facilities did not exist at Meshed for the
accommodation of the orientalists attending the
Ferdausi millenary. Since that time under a cloud.
In the summer of 1935 he was suspected of
complicity in some plot and was exiled to Malayir.
Allowed to i-eturn to Tehran under surveillance,
October 1936.
After the change of rdgime in 1941 he has been
a prominent member of the Adalat party. Minister
of the Interior in January 1943, but he very soon
became involved in a quarrel with his chief, Qawam-
es-Saltaneh, which led to the collapse of the latter’s
Cabinet. His criticisms of his chief in that episode
did not create a good impression on this Legation;
he is evidently self-opinionated and stubborn. Is
very alarmed at the Soviet menace to the indepen
dence of Persia. Governor-General of Isfahan,
1943-44.
A very friendly person, who always appears to
do what he can to help British consular officers.
Has great aspirations to literary eminence; a great
admirer of Hafiz. As Minister he incurred some
criticism from his fellow-countrymen for inaccessi
bility and lack of hospitality. Speaks very little
French. Businesslike and hard-working.
25. Bahrami, Fazlullah
Bom about 1897. For some time a colonel in
the police, and in charge of the detective force.
Acting chief of the Tehran Municipality in 1937.
Director of Census and Civil Status, January 1938.
Minister of Posts and Telegraphs in Soheily’s
Cabinet of 1942 and filled that post adequately
Head of the municipality again July 1943; sus
pended from his functions during the Tehran elec
tions at the end of 1943 owing to accusations of
illegal intervention in the elections, but resumed
his functions January 1944.
A large individual with some energy; but he seems
to have made a good deal of money by dubious land
transactions when head of the municipality.
Obstinate like all the Bahramy family.
Governor-General of Kerman 1944-^15 where he
showed great initiative by organising various
schemes for improving water supply, raising money
for orphanages, &c.—popular there. Offered post
of Governor-General, Kermanshah, in August 1945,
but refused. Health undermined by malaria.
Friendly and co-operative when in Kerman.
Normally reserved and placid but clever and not
easily taken in.
26. Bakhtiari, Murteza Quli Samsam
The son of the famous Samsam-us-Saltaneh.
Born probably about 1875. Took part in operations
against Salar-ud-Douleh in 1911. Represented the
Bakhtiari tribe in the Majlis in the same year, and
appointed Ubeggi of the tribe in 1912. Governor of
\ezd fn 1914. Helped the Germans during the war
1914-18. Made his peace with the British Legation
after the war. Has held the appointment of Ubeggi
or Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the tribe on several occasions. Was
with the tribe when most of the Bakhtiari Khans
were arrested in December 1933; he then had the
appointment of Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. . He escaped the fate of his
fellow khans, and has assisted the Government in
their policy of inducing the Bakhtiari tribe to
abandon their traditional nomadic habits. Appointed
Governor of Bakhtiari early in 1943 and did well,
suppressing various upstarts like Abol Ghassem and
establishing order in that tribal area, thereby
serving British interests well during the war. By
the end of 1945 he had, however, become unpopular
with the other tribal khans who agitated for his
removal. Relieved of his appointment by Qavam-
us-Saltanah for leaving Tehran for his properties in
the south despite explicit instructions not to do so
until he had reached agreement with the other
khans. Arrested in September 1946 for complicity
in joint Bakhtiari-Qashqai rising. Released Decem
ber.
A clever man, not above intrigue. Quick
tempered, jovial and obstinate. Served Reza Shah
well. Very pleasant to meet, but not the sort of
man one can trust very far, as he is very much in
the hands of his strong-minded wife and also places
implicit trust in a worthless agent, Misbah Fatemi.
27. Bayandur, Ghulam Husain, Captain
(N akhuda-yekum)
Elder brother of Ghulam Ali Bayendor. Was a
captain in the army until 1930, when he went to
Italy on a course of naval engineering. Returned
in 1934, and was appointed engineer officer of the
southern naval force. Promoted major in 1935.
Port officer of Abadan and Khorramshahr in 1936.
Lieutenant-Colonel, 1938.
Keenly interested in mercantile affairs, and helped
to float the monopoly company for the landing of
cargo in the port of Khorramshahr in 1937.