Persia Telegrams (Foreign Office) [‎192v] (12/36)

As regards people of Persia, what they are crying out for is security of life and
property, improvement of trade routes, reform of central administration, and to know
that they are really going to be helped. If we could only allow local newspapers and
our consuls in Persia to make it known that reform and progress were no longer bo be
blocked by foreign rivalries, and that we were specially going to assist Persia in arranging
for Mohammerah, Tehran, or Bagdad-Tehran Railways, 1 am confident we should have
the mass of public opinion with us. As it is elections are going very well for the
present Cabinet so far.
1 must add following brief comment on details of Government of India's telegram
above quoted :—
1. I think it is hardly justifiable at' this stage to refer to draft agreements and
proposals as “ Cox’s latest scheme,” in view of first and second paragraphs in your
telegram No. 38 of 23rd January, repeated to India. Either it is policy of His
Majesty’s Government or it is not.
2. Demands of Shah and triumvirate are more Persico [sic], and will not amount
to very much in their ultimate form.
3. I he only coercion I contemplated was possible demonstration by JCasvin
garrison in the event of Starosselski, or a few selected self-seeking democrats in
capital, endeavouring to engineer trouble. We are in no wise committed necessarify
to maintain this Cabinet by force. It is undoubtedly best we could get, but in
absence of any Bolshevik movement I should not fear a change, though 1 should
regret it.
4. financial commitments are a .question of imperial interests, and I cannot
comment.
o. Military aspect ol arrangement is, in my opinion, precisely contrary to that
suggested by Government of India. If we do not grasp the opportunity country will
relapse into violent anarchy, necessitating intervention on a large scale. If we do
grasp it we can withdraw troops as soon as uniform force takes shape.
^ Ver ^ Ipr news', I cannot estimate probabilities of spread of
anti-bntish propaganda from Egyptian and’ Bolshevik directions. Up to now there has
been no apparent result.
7. Question of police. I have no present scheme in view, but surelv at this
momem it would be a mistake to give opening for employment of several more Swedes
v^ho may again become German partisans in Persia.
formerly m'm; i( Dt2 1 (Vr me,,ti ° r | D ^ of / ndia ’ s 3 “formation that hospital
tormeriy manned by German doctors has been transferred to us, and German school
SpofeT 0D the P ° lnt ° f beiDg [gr0Up 0mltted l Ttis - ^ sho wa improvement
(Sent to India.)
No. 9.
' Mr. Balfour to Earl Curzon.-(Received May 3, 9 30 a.m.)
(No. 800.) Paris, May 2, 1919.
VOUR telegram No. 54G of 23rd April (Ma ' J 9 ' 40 P ' M -'
a LeaS Pe^cte^ 8 ’ ** ^ ** 1 - which Persia can possibly claim
Is properly Persian, b^it^whi^^^ias 1 been^wr > ^ o-f’ to Persia of territory which
Power which has fallen into dissolution in ^ U y OCCU P le( * b y enemy Power or by a
other words, she must claim Turkish territo QSe< l u ® nce °* war [.? and] revolution. In
01 she must claim Russian territory as liournmUD enrnai 'k claims part of Schleswig;
N; far as my knowledge gLs t ere f, 1 S Beasarabia - -
properly comes under either description ^"“ contiguous t0 Persia which
language, or race, or, indeed, in religion T f tS ¥ Azerbal jan are not Persian in
Mohammedans of Turanian migin specml c > 7 fr® f ° r l ,art ' 1 Mieve, Sunni
j.® ' " ^cither encourage Persians to P a sk Cor fe e ° f , / Urk - 11 Beems t0 me that
aeco m, T» C0U d we property support her if7 l0 “ ad( ^ .W P»« of Azerbaijan to
focal r . • !,al S rsll y would not atmlv to ” er « to take this course on her own
quirenlews, which would be made suhiect'rf reCt,6cations of frontier to meet
subject ot some special arrangement.