Page 552 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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Scptomber, however* It became clear that the Kashgais
had had one of their usual changes of heart and were
willing to co-operate with the Union, As a result of
this added strength the policy of the Union w?s changed
almost overnight from a peaceful one to that of armed
revolt against the Government. The aims of the revolt
were not and arc still not clear, but undoubtedly were
chiefly directed against the Tudeh party, nd to a
lesser extent against excessive interference from Tehran
in local affairs. As the revolt progressed, personal
ambition* and desire for power* among the leaders did
much to shape policy and hinder pro ress. The revolt
in this consular area was of short duration. It
come need on September 19 th and by r. id night' of the 28 th
all Government forces in Bushire had surrendered. Those
at at Khormuj surrendered on October 1st. not long after­
wards the Xashgais and others captured iCazerun, and
opened negotiations with Government. These proceeded
slowly and Bushire leaders were not often involved, as
they, had devoted themselves more to administering Bushire
than to thinking of the future. In fact itwas at first
doubtful if the agreement which was eventually announced
on the radioav/as applicable to the coastal area. Later
it became clear that it was, and a commission visited
3ashi.*e to settle details. Since the main points of
agreement were still unknown, and as far as could be
ascertained were never reduced to writing in any sense
at all binding on either party, the commission achieved
very little. Nevertheless, it a?.eared that a genuine
settlement had been achieved including some measure*
of transference of power from Tehran to Fars, and with the
return to Bushi n of the Governor, **- the disuersal of
tribal forces}naiat Baud! ent to ->hiraz with the object
of assisting m the establishment of a provincial council,
selection of candidates for the ii&jlis, etc. hot long
after he came hurrying back. The success of the Persian
Government in Azerbaijan, and the renewed confidence
of the army, had alarmed the tribal leaders 7/ho had
already allowed personal ambition and private jealous­
ies to undermine their unity and who feared reprisals
which they were no longer in a positi.n to resist.
As a result the whole position of the tribes vis a vis
the Government weakened at once. One demand of the
Prime i.iinister was met after another, including even
the dissolution of the tribal party, and the adherence
of it*s members of the Democrat party of the Prime minister
and the outcome was the loss of all that had been gained
by the revolt. But that apparently was not enough. New
and core difficult demands were made by the Shiraz army
commander who appeared to have taken the place of the
Governor General. Such was the oosition at the end of
the year, but whatever the final outcome of the affair
it is clear even now that the revolt has accentuated
old feelings and brought about new influences which will
undoubtedly affect future events. These may be summar­
ised as

(a) The interdependence of Fars and the Bushire coastal
area, with Shiraz as tho. trueh much the most important
town in the are*.
(b) The advantages of unity among the tribes, and the
.
ease with which, provided they are united, and act Jointly
and with determination, they can impose their wishes on
tho Central Government. Conversely the ease with which
they can be oversowed when not so united.
(c) The distrust, one might almost say dislike, of all
/things which