'Memorandum of information received during the month of August 1909, relating to affairs in Persia, and on the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf' [‎3r] (5/14)

Memorandum of information received during
the month of August 1909, relating to
affairs in Persia, and on the Arabian
shore of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
[Note.—T his memorandum is based upon reports, the accuracy of
which it is not always possible to guarantee.]
PERSIA.
1. (Vide paragraph 1 of Memorandum
Situation in Persia. ^ly 1909.) On
the deposition of the
Shah, Muhammad Ali, the control of affairs in
Persia was entrusted to a directory of twenty
persons including the Sipahdar, Minister of
War, the 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. Assad, Minister of the
Interior, Nasr-ul-Mulk, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mustaufi-ul-Mamalik, Minister of
Finance, and Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma, Minister of
Justice. On the 26th July Sir E. Grey requested
His Majesty’s Ambassador at Paris to convey
to Nasr-ul-Mulk, who was still in Europe,
though he had announced his acceptance of
office, the earnest hope of His Majesty’s Gov
ernment that he would enter on his duties with
out delay. On the 30th July it was authorita
tively announced that Colonel Liakhoff, Com
manding the Cossack brigade, was relinquishing
his post. On the 21st July Sir G. Barclay tele
graphed that so far as he could judge by the
reports he had received, a very good impression
had been produced by the change of Rulers.
Elections for the Assembly at Tehran, to be
held under the new electoral law, were fixed
for the 6th, 7th and 8th August. The new
Persian Government issued a circular enjoining
upon provincial assemblies the necessity for
doing their utmost to calm down anti-Russian
agitation. At the same time the Persian
Minister at St. Petersburgh was directed to
enquire whether Russia saw her way to
withdrawing Russian troops located in Persian
territory. He was informed in reply that this
could not be done until it was clear that
order had definitely been re-established. On
the 6th August it was reported that a special
tribunal, which had been constituted to deal
with political offenders, had been dissolved,
after ordering four executions. Excellent
order was being maintained in Tehran.
Meanwhile, the attention of the Persian
Government was occupied with the question
of the disposal of the ex-Shah. His Majesty’s
continued presence in Persia was recognised by
them and by the two Powers to be undesirable,
as he formed a centre for. intrigue and appeared
to be encouraged by his adherents to believe
that Russia would replace him on the throne, an