مجموعة ٢٨/ ٩٧ (٢) "ملخصات استخباراتية خاصة بطهران" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٧] (٢٥٢/٢١٣)

No>430 /6A9
1 TLITALuY aTT^CILJ - T x JjRAT'
Sini'^lY I~o« 6 of 1949
POLITICAL.
1. Review of events.
The Persian New Year holidays have extended for the greater
part of the period since the last summary. The Majlis was in recess for
nearly 2 weeks and on some other occasions a quorum could not be formed.
The elections for the Constituent Assembly are now in progress and results
are starting to appear. The New Year holiday was interrupted for some by
an incident on the frontier north of CURGAN in 'which one Rjrsian soldier was
killed‘and another wounded by Soviet troops. Though considerable publicity
has been given to the affair, apparently as a result of the desire of the
Persian C.G-.S. to make public such instances of Soviet action, it does not
appear to be of unusual significance. On 2nd April a further incident
involving exchange of shots between Persian and Soviet troops took place in
the area of (SANtEM BULAGH, AO miles NNW of ARDGBIL on the Azerbaijan frontier.
This also has been the scene of previous incidents. Details of these two
incidents are given in paras 5 a ^d 6 . Though no official statement has yet
been issued there have been reports, which appear to have foundation, that
^the U.S.S.R. are withdrawing all their Consulates from Persia. Trials of
those‘"arrested'^in coTmection with the attempt on the^hah's life continue,
and martial law is still in force.
2. Elections for Constituent Assembly.
Polling for the elections to the Constituent Assembly began
in Tehran on 3rd April and are due to continuo- till 7th ^pril. In certain
other towns polling was due to begin a day earlier than in Tehran but the
attempt at Qazvin to boat the pistol by several days was ruled a foul and
voting had to start afresh in that town. In several districts, however,
voting has finished and the election of 62 out of the 264 deputies has so
fe^T been announced. In most cases lists of people acceptable for election
have been distributed to the supervisory electoral committees who apparently
must ensure that those elected are on these lists. There is therefore some
freedom of choice but undesirable candidates are eliminated. The section of
the military government law prohibiting all assemblies was suspended to
allow election meetings.
3. The Majlis.
The Majlis reassembled on 3rd April after nearly two weeks
recess for the Persian New Year. Naki raised the question of the delay in
the Government's reply to his interpellation which was a month old. The
Speaker replied that the Government was ready to reply to the two interpell
ations on any day fixed by the Majlis. The House then proceeded to elect the
new Speaker, Mr Hckmat's 6 months tern of office being ended. On the first
count no one obtained an absolute majority and the voting was held again. This
tine Hcknat was re-elected as Speaker.