ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ٢ "الحرب الألمانية: حيادية بلاد فارس" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٢] (٣٤٨/٣٠٨)

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Sir W. Townley to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 1 , 11*10 p.m.)
PERSIA
/xr 1 Tehran, January 1 , 1915.
(January 1 , 3*40 p.m.)
Ml telegram jNo. 3b8 of 30th December, 1914.
My Russian colleague told me last night that he had been informed that Russian
troops would be withdrawn from Azerbaijan for strategical reasons, and suggested
that I should inform Prime Minister in order to get the most possible out of this
forced move in accordance with Persia’s wishes. He said that he could not do so as
he had received no instructions from Petrograd.
I agreed to take action as he suggested, as the situation is so critical that an
hour gained is so much to the good.
I endeavoured to see Prime Minister this morning, but he was occupied, and, instead,
called on me this afternoon. I told him what I had learnt from my Russian colleague ,
and urged him, in view of the situation at Tabriz, to sound Turkish Ambassador at
once respecting withdrawal of Turkish troops. His Highness promised to do so this
afternoon, although he said that his hand would have been much strengthened had he
been able to tell Ambassador that he had been officially informed by Russian
Minister of decision taken. He repeated that if Russian evacuation was genuine
one, and if Turks refused to withdraw their troops, Persia would declare war on
Turkey. ^ Minister for Foreign Affairs, who called on me shortly after Prime
Minister’s departure, confirmed this. Under conditions prevailing, it W'Ould
appear to me most desirable that all Russian troops in Persia should be
withdrawn. If any remain, Russia’s prestige will suffer serious blow, because it will
be said that Turks forced her to evacuate Azerbaijan. As Russia’s ally, we suffer
proportionately. There is absolutely no necessity for Russian troops at Kazvin or
Meshed or in Mazanderan, and no disorders of any kind need be anticipated. Since
we withdrew our troops from Central Persia situation has gradually improved. Effect
in north would be much more apparent if Russian troops were withdrawn. Pro-
[group undecypherable] German party would no longer have any weapon to use against
us, and Turkey would find a united Persia arrayed against her if she did not with
draw her troops as requested.
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