مجموعة ٢٨ /١٥ "بلاد فارس. الشؤون الداخلية. التغييرات السياسية والإدارية." [و‎‎١‎٣‎٦] (٢٨٦/٢٧٢)

with no conception of the elements of sound finance, refusing to listen to or act
upon good advice, Persia seems bound to remain a poor and backward country.
She has a genius for irritating her neighbours and such ingrained distrust of
-every other country that she is, and likely to remain always, as now, without any
real friend.
23. I am sending a copy of this despatch to the Foreign Secretary to the
Government of India.
I have, &c.
R. H. CLIVE.
P.S., July 1 .—On reading through this despatch in type I feel there
is one important point to which I have not drawn sufficient attention. I refer to
the artificial growth of militarism in what is essentially an unmilitary
country. The arrogance and indiscipline towards the civil population of the
officers and men of this new army are growing more marked. /I he Persian soldier
to-day carrying his rifle does not hesitate to level it at any civilian on the slightest
provocation, real or imagined. On the public highways this is a growing danger.
Freight lorries and even private cars are considered fair game by the soldiery,
who force the drivers by threats to give them free lifts. There have been
frequent cases of the unfortunate drivers being brutally assaulted. In the
provinces, and even in Tehran and the immediate neighbourhood, rape and robbery
by young undisciplined soldiers are on the increase. I he newly enrolled conscripts
are among the worst offenders. No redress can ever be obtained. C omplaints to
the Ministry of War are simply unheeded. Meanwhile the bhah is ever increasing
the size of the army. It is said that he aims eventually at an army of 100,000
men. Two years ago there were 35 , 000 , to-day there are 41,000. The cost is
approximately 45 per cent, of the annual revenues of the country, "which neithei
requires, wants, nor can afford so large a force. The danger which ten years ago
existed from banditry is to-day tending to increase from the forces called into
being to suppress it. Having spent three years in ( hina since tne vai, I know
that undisciplined forces are as great a danger as bandits. I have some reason
therefore for considering the present state of affairs ver\ disquieting.
R. H. C.