Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎262r] (526/1237)

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mm* Qtw*& the ftpplie tloa of the agreement would mean a out of nbout
ZQi* the workers are riow realising the aituetion and are protecting
tnat any reductions, at the mn# time nccualng their rerresentntires,
of whom Birya la chief, of having mold thorn to the owners, ^hls
agreement has not yot been notlflosd to the Department of Industry.
The head of this department attended the first two aectings between
the owners and workers* rearesentotives, but then withdrew, report
ing to the Oovftraor-Oeneral that the latter were only out for political
Prd® and that the workers thsasslvas were merely pawn a in the gams.
Wth alies, he compl? laed, wished to ignore his department. The
Governor-O^nsral apparently advised hi to continue attending the
Meetings, saying that he ne^d take no responsibility for the course
of the negotiations, but as the Governor-Genera1 would not put his
instruetlone int > writing he ^referr^d to report the situation to
Tehran and to stay at hoae. This offleiale opinion of the Governor-
General is that he is *all hat*, l.e. with nothing underneath.
The local manager of the National Bank is of opinion that
most factories are now wor ing at & loss, but that the owners e> a
well afford to carry their losses for some time In view of the fan
tastic profits made during the inflationary period. Tycntuelly,
however, the problem of adjusting costs of production and selling
prices will have to be faced.
258. Tabr ls ' unlol ality . im-t people find it hard to b^liave in
the oontinued existence of this organisation. The torn h^s never
before been so filthy, its streets so neglects*d and its eesentiel
services furoioning so badly. Reference has previously b eh made to
the failure to deal with the precarious water isitu&tion and to check
profiteering. The situation in both respects continues to deteriorate
and It is & generally held belief thtat the responsible officials
are deiiber iely sacrificing the general welfare for personal gain.
I It is becoming common for renark® to be honrd to the effect that a
f similar situation c uld never arise in the oviet Union.
259. Azerbaijan Ora in Ituatlon . ‘ir. Crawford, of the Ureed and
Cereals Deotion of the MUispcugh Uission, recently s-wnt several
days in Tabriz and exproesed himself as satisfied with the ^resent
position. The only difficulty remains that of transport, but
Mr. Crawford Is hopeful of procuring » further allocution of trucks.
A eontr at has now b sn eigned with Iransovtrens, he stated, for the
carrying of grain from > stare to liasvin and from Boatenab^id to Mianeh
and thence by rail to Tehran* He hope® for a similar agreement for
the stretch Arde il - Bost*nobad. zerboijnn is chock-full of grain
and landlords {inol'idin^ the Kurds) are very willing to sell et the
Cove rotten t prices, but contracts are in general only being
within the limits of trims ort noasibiiittes. ni ? al transport is
also being used to the maximum possible extent and more is at present
being moved by this iteens than by lorry. In certain districts grain
Q' t\ now be purchased for ms little? as 1,£00-1,400 rials per ton,
while the op^n marl et price in Tabriz i® 8,500—8,600 riai.o with a
slightly rising tendency*
The reduction in the Quantity at barley required by the Red
Army (sec paragraph 854 above) will lesve a oonsiderable surplus
not required elsewhere in I nan. The disposal of 'his surplus presents
no easy problem. It is proposed to reintroduce barley broad as a
partial solution*
260. tody De'^«n^ent. Mr. Alisa, Head of the torly Dep*;rtreat,
hopes tnat new ration carde will soon be issued in Tabriz and when
this occurs there will be nn issue of piece goone. He is also vepr
anxious to put the distribution of monopoly good® to villagers and
tribes an m proper basis, but Is held up by the nb©a oe oi *my
organization as well a® of reliable st tietios. Bo f^r as too tribes
ere concerned he Is now attempting to collect information aa to their
structure and numbers and will it* iwAw^2h<Tt thev ou^hC*
to king good care, however, to let the tribesaen know idu?t they ought
to .X9«0t. H. 1. «* 1»0 haBdloaapjjg bT th. fact th»* he
self Visit Eurdioh dl.trlot. a. t>i. Soviet .utnori.n. nvuna*
greet him the neaeesary permit. /£61 #