'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎22r] (48/610)

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In the event of non-cornpliance Persia was threatened with
an advance of the Russian troops from Rasht, and an increase
in the indemnity. British diplomatic protests at Saint Reters-
burgh were overriden and Russia persisted in her demands.
An ti-Russian feeling ran high in Tehran, Russian goods
were boycotted, and a run was started on the Imperial Bank
of Persia, which, as a British institution, incurred unpopularity
for the British Government’s failure to support Persia against
this tyranny.
The Persian Assembly refused to comply with the Russian
ultimatum, and 3,000 to 4,000 Russian troops advanced to
Kazvin and were expected to move on Tehran on December
21st.
The position was desperate, melees with the Russian troops
at Rasht, Enzali and Tabriz resulted in the killing of several
Persians, and finally on 24th 1 December the Regent of Persia,
Nasr-ul-Mulk, the Cabinet and Yeprim forcibly dissolved the
obdurate Assembly to avoid worse disasters by further impo
tent opposition to Russia. On Christmas day Mr. Shuster
was dismissed. Such was the dismal ending to Mr. Shustei s
valiant attempt to evolve order out of chaos in the Persian
financial administration, the only promising work of organi
zation yet undertaken in Persia. It had already achieved a
considerable measure of initial success, and might, if carried
to its conclusion, have gone far to set on its feet the embryo
Constitutional Government. For a while Belgian Treasurers
General endeavoured to carry on Mr. Shuster s work, and
Belgians in the provinces combined the duties of Customs
officials and revenue officers, but his successors did not put the
same heart into the work, and his dismissal had disheartened
the ‘ young ’ Persians and made them feel that Russian hostility
made the realization of their hopes and aspirations impossible.
As a result of the Russian ultimatums the chaos in th®
provinces had increased and Azarbaljan and Pars were withou
Governors. Insecurity in Pars became so menacing that a
regiment of Indian cavalry were dispatched to restore order,
2 squadrons being stationed at Shiraz, one at Bushire and one
at Isfahan.
Although the rebellions of Muhammad Ali and of Salar-ud-
Dauleh had been broken they had not been entirely_ crushed.
The latter had revived his cause, defeated Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muhi, reoccu-
1 The Assembly had already sat for more than the period of 2 years prescribed
in the ‘ Constitution.'