18
As the German-Russian War broke out in 1941,
Turkey stayed neutral and Europe sided with Germany,
which resulted in Iran becoming the center of aid for Russia
by allied forces and a great struggle began to win the
support
of tribes in Iran. As Shah Rıza attempted to pursue a pro-
German policy, he was overthrown after a coup orchestrated
by Russia and England. Thus Soviet Russia became
dominant in South Azerbaijan while the British were active
in central and southern parts of Iran.
After his death, Savlet’üd-devle was replaced by
Nasir Khan. In the meantime, the British pressured Iran
government to prevent Kashgais from leaving their pastures.
As Nasir Khan knew that permanent settlement would result
in assimilating into Persian culture, he resisted by saying
“prevent us if you dare”. Meanwhile the British dissolved a
network of German spies in Isfahan and a spy named Shulze
fled and sought refuge in Kashgais with his wife and friends
alongside him.
10
This incident added to the pressure
imposed by the British on Kashgais.
Iranian airforce dropped
bombs on Kashgais. A massacre was avoided thanks to
efforts of Cemal Hüsnü Taray, Ambassador of Turkey in
Tehran and military attache Naci Okay.
Cemal Hüsnü Taray recalls these incidents in his
memoirs: “I proposed to the British ambassador to move this
tribe to Turkey rather than abolishing it after coming to
terms with Iranian government. The British ambassador said
they would accept this proposal if it is offically requested by
Turkish government. After an unexpected
remark by Turkish
Minister of Foreign Affairs that they would be ready to
accept the tribe, British government was aggravated.”
11
In
the meantime, a general named Cihanbani was appointed to
command the troops surrounding Kashgais. Cemal Hüsnü
Haz. S.Gömeç, Ankara 1999, p.93; Attar,
a.g.e., p.109; Attar,
a.g.m.,
p.30, 333-334.
10
Orhonlu,
a.g.m., s.618; R.Şaşıhüseyinoğlu, “Kaşkay Türkleri”,
Yurttan
Dünyadan Haber, Issue 33, İstanbul 1982, p.17; Attar,
a.g.m., p.30;
B.K.Yeşilbursa, “Kaşkaylarda Gelenek, Görenek ve Kültür Unsurları”,
Türk Kültürü, 26/305, Ankara 1988, p.86-87.
11
C.H.Taray, “Kaşkaylar Meselesi ve Karmakarışık İşler”,
Cumhuriyet
Gazetesi, newspaper dated 18 April 1963; H.Ladjevardi, “The Origins of
U.S. Support for an Autocratic Iran”,
International Journal of Middle
East Studies, 15/2, London 1983, p.225.