Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎569v] (1141/1237)

‘2
they promised to this consulate, have now produced an innocuous series of mangled
names with gaps which look only too deliberate, including as they do Bulgtars,
Swiss and Hungarians who are known to be still here. ^ 1 he police here, as
elsewhere in Persia, are probably those with eyes most cocked in the direction ot
the hoped-for ^German legions and doubtless the still more hoped-for tangibltj*^
rewards therefrom. . . .
4. A new journal, called Talk and Action, has appeared m labriz, edited
by one Akhbari of the Education Department, who was suspected of pro-Nazi
sympathies not so long ago. The first harmless number contained an ai tic e
calling for national unity and co-operation, and another demanding the loreibie
tearing-oft of women s-veils by the police, as under the former regime.^ lo t e
general surprise the Soviet-sponsored newspaper in Turkish, \ atan Yolanda, is
now to be restricted to the Red Army, and copies will not be available for the local
public; only a few months ago its circulation in Persian schools, factories and
offices was being boosted by Soviet political officers in uniform, but the ntc.
major-general here has other ideas, or has perhaps received other instructions.
The paper's recent article on German activities on both sides of the lurkish
frontier may also have something to do with its sudden restriction. On the other
band an anonymous broadsheet in Turki dialect attacking the local authonties
and their alleged Fascist policy has been widely distributed this last week here and
in other parts of Azerbaijan. , , ^ ,
5 News from the Kurdish area is that the rebel Rashid Khan, after another
clash with the Persian military, is now in Sahab. and has declined peace proposals
made by Amir Asad, the Kurdish farmandar of Sauj Bulagh. 1 he proposals are
said to have included the promise of a post as bakhshidar at Baneh, but
Rashid Khan evidently does not trust the Persian authorities, and remembering
past treatment of chiefs who had trustfully submitted has perhaps good reason
for not doine so. The Kurdish notables Ghazi Mohamed and Sheikh Abdulla
are still in Tabriz, and the local authorities have the idea of giving them a small
sinecure or some form of monthly subsidy, the appointment of a commission in
Tehran several weeks ago to examine tribal questions has only just been heard
of here and has caused no particular comment or reaction. Even m ttie
Governor-General’s view, the new policy does not concern Azerbaijan tribes either
Kurdish Shahsevan or Karadaghi, being intended for tribes m the south who
were more aggrieved by the former Shah’s repressions and exactions.
6 Some of the self-exiled Tabrizi upper-class are reported to be returnmo-
here from Tehran, partly because of the dearness of living and shortage of good
bread there, and partly because of the alleged outbreak of typhus m the capita .
This outbreak is blamed by everyone on the influx of I olish refugees, whom the
British and Russians have introduced into this country. 1 here are several cases
of tvphus reported also in Tabriz, and some people are already staying away from
cinemas and other public places. The Soviet military authorities have otlereo
their_assista p aV e also agreed to lend transport f°r the moving
of 400 tons of wheat from Bustanabad to the Government silo at labuz. e
latter now contains about 4,500 tons of grain, and has earmarked another
1 300 tons of wheat at Ushnu and smaller quantities at Maragha and Miandoab,
none of which can be collected, however, for lack ot transport. Tribesmen at
oresent refuse to hire camels, which are at spring pasture.
8 There has been a good deal of Russian troop movement here lately, five
train loads of cavalry having arrived in one day. Some of this is due to ordinary
changes in garrisons and personnel, but there has undoubtedly been an addi ion
to the previous numbers of troops in North-West Persia. It is difficult to get exact
information as the Russians are so secretive on the one hand, and the Persians
i Xzerbaiianis so childishly mendacious and fond of exaggeration on the ot^ei.
buf increases have apparent^ taken place along the Turkish frontier, where the
Soviet mditary have agreed to let local gendarmerie work with them m policing
Soviet military nave alleo . ed smi io-glers, it is explained), and appreciable
nl^r^ount^ by D |>me Tabriz,! at four regiments have
numbers ot moumea ^ latter movements, of course, caused full
S on f tow f^|^ o a r am K to the recent German broadcasts, which stated that
thf^^rftish^vOT^^Hthdr^i’tS^l* 0 ® 0 ^ 1 r ^ a aI ' d allowi ^ the f0rCeS „ t0
occupy' Humadan and Kermanshah to begin with, and to move as far as the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. later.