Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎320r] (642/1237)

declaim to aena troops which has already been taken, or at least to
iind out what their reaction will be. The Kurds find comir&ation
oi their view in a report that has reached -iahabad that the Governor-
General at hezaieh has himself stated that troops will soon be sent
thare. it is likewise confirmed by Tabriz reports that the transfer
of Gar hang Varaharam from Tabriz to hianduab is a preliminary to the
-^Movement a£ troops from ^ianduab to lahabad.
1^1 • :imgi_ g-Takcstan Jenvoy dou te# The *ulidoktor bridge near
. laneh was opened oy the Minister of Qoaaa uni cations on ..ay 9th. The
British military authorities were represented by brigadier Douglas
and Uolonel . oo4, tire x-tuauiaae by General Kargin. The
ceremony passed off in an atmoapner© of great cordiality. Colonel
vvooa was very unfavourably impressed with the state of the road
between Takes tan and Tabriz, which is maintained by the iiussians, ma
considers that on a comparative basis tne xOiaciana have no justifiable
grounds i or coiii|)laint about the British maintained road between
-uasvin and Tehran.
security on the road has saaewh&t improved, but there are still
occasional incidents. Mr. Ogden, leaving Tabriz by trie Public
Relations Bureau courier van on April 22nd, was involved in one such
incident q etw©en mianeh and ben^an. A young Ru&ci&n captain wishing
to pass the van fired a ahot in the air from a U.K, j.C. truck in
which ne was following. The van stoi^pecl and the Russian of ic©r then
threatened trie uriver with his i»evolver, apparently angered that the
truck nad not immediately giveaway. On . .r. Ogden remonstrat
ing and disclosing his identity the of OLser apologised, but r. r ,, < -n
was left with the impression that but for his presence the driver
would probably have been beaten. The P.&.B* van vast Mr* Ogden repor-
ts, well on the right-hand aide of the road, so that the high-handed
conduct oi the ofiicei* had no excuse.
vh the other hand two cases have occurred where tyres filched
Bun elan drivers from U.K.J.g. trucks have been recovered on appeal
lo the .iUbsian authorities* The presence of mind of the driver of one
oi the trucks is deserving on being placed on record, tie warn making
some minor repairs to his vehicle about midnight when a Russian truck
stopped beside him and the driver forcibly relieved him of his spare
wheel und tyre, ha the Russian truck drove off the U.R.C.G. driver
took its number and then threw a brick through the windscreen to make
identification doubly sure. The U.R.U.C. representative at Uianeh
&s soon as the matter was reported to him took the driver to the
Russian commandant, who immediately despatched some military police
to arrest the Rusaian driver and hia truck* This was uom and as a
reeult oi further measures taken by the Russians the complete wheel
was restored the following morning, it is not known what disciplinary
action was taken against the Russian driver.
122. ^qyement__of .daerican Troopa* During tii© past fort t two
continent 6 of /merioan tachnical troops, eachi estimated at about
200 strong, have passed through Tabriz @a route for the Soviet Union.
liJ ^* Tii hat ion in x nuri z. ihe labour urireat in Tabriz is
stixl alma©ring although all possible concessions to workers is the
general rule. The Governor-General has thought it necessaiy to forbid
workers meetings in factories, out it is uncertain how far this order
will be obeyed. It is also stated that Khalil inqilab, one of the
i ounders of the workers’ Union and previously expelled from Tabriz,
has returned here with the object of organicing a common front with
the uudeh Union.
^vrba Hon grain .it gat ion. Director of Finance recently
returned from a tour of the Khoi and aku areas, he spoke enthusiast
ically of crop prospects, but complained that lack of security a© well
as lack of transport is hampering the collection of last season's
/grain.