Coll 28/112B Persia. Tabriz. Monthly dispatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan, & misc: reports.’ [‎105r] (210/451)

4
sections of the population would eagerly avail themselves of an opportunity
to join an opposition party, preferably the Iran Democrats, was tolerably
certain and the consequences of even a minor military defeat inflicted on
the Azerbaijan Democrat forces were likely to be widespread throughout the
Ptovince. It was therefore with a considerable feeling of relief that they
received a visit from a foviet Official from Tehran on November 25th. The
latter returned to Tehran on the following day, came back on the 2^th. and •
left again for the capital on November 2^th. I have been unable to ascertain
what transnired during these visits. There was a rumour to the effect that
the Russians instructed the Democrats not to resist Central Government troops
but I cannot confirm this. Certainly pishevari has made no more violent speech*
as, but on the other hand the vituperation against the Central Government in
the Tabriz press and radio has reuiained uncnecked, and there has been no slack
ening in the Democrats* military preparations. There was general resentment
amongst the commercial and landowner classes at the "Kussian lntervention’‘ as
they felt that but for this the prime minister would have had no difficulty in j
securing control of the Province.
158, Meanwhile the Govern or-General caused a notice to be inserted in
the press to the effect that the elections would be held between December 7th.
and December 71st. and that they would be free and democratic and that the
arty comaittees concerned were to take th*» necessary steps. Cn November 2Pth.
he left for Mahabad to see the Kurdish Democrat leader, <tezi Mohammed, and on
.
November 30th. it was reported that Democrat forces, together with Kurdish
sympathisers from M&habad district, had been concentrated north of Gar dash t
and saqqiz to check any Central Government advance from these places.
Iffi ? lha month closed, as it had begun, with both the Central Government
and the aizerbaijan Democrats firm on the question of the entry of Persian
troqps into the province. The provincial Council of Azerbaijan telegraphed
on the last day of the month to the prime Minister saying that no troops were
needed for security during the elections in Azerbaijan as there were already
sufficient forces in the Province to maintain order, and in any case these
forces were part of the Persian Amy under the terms of the agreement of June
1946 with the Central Government. In the absence of Tehran soldiery, there
/ would