Page 149 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947_Neat

-21m
When the food situation was acuta H.M'fl Consul pressed the
Farmanaar to start the distribution of •ash* on the model of
Kerman. This he aid after some reluctance at first on the ground
that the Yezd people would not eat it. Some of the merchants also
nominally subscribed to a fund for purchasing wheat, but the
benefit for this was limited (as perhaps they knew it would be)
since no wheat was available.
The Anglo-Iranian Relief Fund gave grants to Yezd also for
medical and charitable relief* These were administered by the Rev*
Gurney of the C*M.S. and took the form of assistance in the
purchase of medicines, and distribution of raw vegetables, rice,
charcoal etc. From these schemes the very poor have really
benefited and there were signs at the end, of the year that with
tills example before them same of the merchants were waging up
to their responsibilities for the relief of destitution.

IX* POLITICS.
Ghulam Reza Darug?r, the owner of the principal soap factory
in Tehran ( a pro-German with German wife) was deported from
Tehran and arrived in Yezd on the 6th April* As^edullah Kohandis
Daryasi, also pro-German and formerly incharge of the Government
wireless station in Tehran, was also deported and arrived in Yezd
on the 22nd April. Both were transferred to Kermanshah on the 1st
L'ay.
Before 1942 vigorous Nazi propaganda had made at least 8Q3
of the Yezd population Axis sympathizers. The Axis successes of
the summer inspired a firm belief in a German victory.
The pro-Nazi feelings of the people were not due to the fact
that they were actually anti-British, but because they heard one
half of the story only. This Axis propaganda received a check when
on the 6th of April the Municipality installed a radio set in their
office with a loua speaker in a public garden after which hundreds
of people daily heard the correct news from Tehran, Lonuon and
Delhi. After November and December in particular the attitude or
the people charged as they realised that the final victory would
be with the Allies*
But the’ most effective counter to German propaganda was
undoubtedly the reopening of the British Consular Office which
showed that the "jritisn Government were taking an interest in
Yezd. in conjunction with the Consular Office a reading roan was
opened on the 8th April, where people could read English, Indian
and Persian papers and magazines and other propaganda matter.
Towards the end of the year a daily news bulletin in Persian was
also started which received a warm welcome from officials and
private persons alike.

(C) Bandar Abbas*
(I) CONSULATE.

(a)(1) Consul*
Lt-Colonel G.A. Falconer, C.I.E., held additional
charge of His Britannic Majesty rs Vice-Consulate from 1st January
to 13th September 1942. Mr. H.A.N. Barlow, I.C.S. took over charge
on 14th September, 1942.

(ii) Consulate Officials.
Mr. R.A. Cl in ton-Thom as, Vice-Consul, Kerman
arrived at Bander Abbas on 26th pecember, 1941 and left for Kerman
on 12th January, 1942. He again arrived at Bandar Abbas on 3rd
March, 1942 and left for Kerman on 11th March, 1942*

Major VT.M.T. Magan, additional vice Consul and
Area Liaison officer arrived on 19th April, 1942 and left for
Kerman on 23rd April, 1942* 22/-----