ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ٥ "الحرب الألمانية: بلاد فارس، الوضع في عربستان ١٩١٥" [ظ‎‎١‎١] (٤٠٤/٢٧)

some nation with which Germany was at peace ? He replied that failing
orders from Tehran he could do nothing in this matter. Moreover, the affair
was now too big for him, as the Germans had as many men as he had, and if
he acted against them there would be much bloodshed.
I retorted that it was scarcely possible to dam a river when it was in flood
but it was easily confined at its source. The arming of the German retainers
had been carried out under his own eyes and he had taken no steps to prevent
it.
III. I asked him to arrest and deport the Karguzar, Inspector of Posts,
Rais-i-Mo’aref and others, and to get the Gendarmes removed from Kerman*
arguing that these were matters within his power as Governor. These people*
were working against the peace and welfare of his Governorship; it was his
business to maintain order and to arrest all sedition-mongers, and special
powers or explicit instruction were not required.
He replied that as regards the individuals named he could not arrest them
without clear and explicit orders from the Cabinet at Tehran. But as regards
the Gendarmes he had already requested their withdrawal, and orders had been
received for their transfer to Ispahan and that they were now engaged in
selling their furniture, &c., by auction.
IV. I asked him to stop the Germans from placarding the town with
their lies regarding the internal affairs of Persia. I produced, and Dr. Stein-
hoff read, one of their latest notices in which the statement was made that the
English and Russian Ministers with their colonies had fled from Tehran. I
asked if he believed that this was true ? He replied that he knew it was
untrue. I pointed out that, being posted on the city gates, these notices had,
or appeared to have, his official sanction and were doing British interests
incalculable harm in this city.
In reply he promised that he would prohibit the placarding of the notices
in future, and that if they were posted he would order the police to tear them
down.
V. We asked him why he permitted the local paper to vilify our country
in the manner it did almost daily.
He promised to send for the Editor as soon as he got back to his house,
and prohibit the publication of such articles in future under pain of confisca
tion of the paper and printing press.
. ^- e i n sisted that the Manager of the Bank and myself should not go about
without an armed guard, saying that he would not be responsible for our
safety if we disregarded his request. (After this we were both accompanied by
armed Bakhtiaris whenever we left our houses or offices.)
The meeting then dispersed under the impression that some little had been
one towards improving our position in Kerman. Our hopes were doomed
to disappointment. The same evening we heard that Yezd had been seized by
^ f. V ermaIls ’ aT1( ^ learnt that the Gendarmes auction sale had developed into a
political meeting.
When the auctioneer‘‘put up” the first article, a priest stood up and
called down the curses of God on whoever bid for the goods of the 3endar-
mene force. He said, “ 1'hese men were engaged to defend us, it would be a sin
and ashame if they were permitted to leave. The Governor-General only
wanted to get rid o them so that he could have everything in his own hands.
. Consu 8 y. ele backing up the Governor-General in this matter and
J" 6 an ^flastmg disgrace to natives of Kerman if they did not oppose
T ,en a Ip Ue i G ™ da ™f ”• Other speakers followed in the same strain.
onnL th! q e " i WaS T? fo ;. y ' dunte<:1 's to join the Gendarme force to
oppose the expulsion of the Gendarmes. Many were enrolled. I am not
aware whether rifles were served out to them or not but in the matter of
uniforms 7 Wer6 C ° Uld flght 38 Wel1 in ’ P laiQ clotlies 39
As night drew on many people who had attended the “ auction
leave and go to their homes, Many of them were prevented doing
” wished to
so, almost