File 52/1912 Pt 1 'Persia Diaries' [‎386r] (776/900)

[Confidential.]
Meshed Consular Diary No. 7 for the week ending 17th February [received
21st March) 1912.
, F ? b ™*ry The Pensioners.—An order has been received from Tehran
to the ettect that all pensioners alike should be given 100 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and that noth
ing more will be paid. As most of the pensioners are powerful and rich the
result will be to increase the feeling against the present regime. The pensioners
intend to demonstrate.
, An emissar y from the ex-Shah. —Sheikh Ismail Kainihas
reached Meshed with letters for the Governor-General, the Shuja-ul-Mulk (the
Hazara Chief), Aga Mirza Ibrahim and others. He states that the ex-Shah
will reach Meshed by No Kuz.
13th February. The Salar-u-Dola. —The Foreign Minister has informed
the Karguzar of the defeat of the Salar-u-Dola at Kermanshah with heavy loss.
lith February. Reported appointment of Russian judges.—It is reported
that a Russian Court is to be formed at Meshed. If true, it probably means
that the Consulate cannot deal with the cases which occur.
15th February. The Amir on the situation. —The Afghan Agent, who
sent a report on the action of the Russians to Kabul, has received a reply from
the Amir to the effect that the English were being deceived by the Russians and
that they would soon lose India on this account.
16th February. Movements of Mr. Tanner. —The Telegraph Inspector has
left Damghan and is now moving towards Meshed repairing the line. I shall
have special arrangements made for his protection when he enters Khorasan, as
the whole country is disturbed.
17th February. The American Dental Syndicate. —Dr. Esselstyn tells me
that it is possible that an American dentist will settle at Meshed in the spring.
After the capital there is no towm in Persia where a dentist would make more
money than Meshed and the boon to the place would be very great.
Political Summary to Meshed Diary No. 7 of 1912.
In a special report (No. 8 to the Legation and No. 8-C. to the Govern
ment of India) I have given an account of the situation of affairs up to 10th
February. On 14th February Yusuf Herati, with Shaikh Ali Akbar ^a Russian
student), the Talib-ul-Hak and Seiid Mobamed Ali began a fresh demonstra
tion. They threatened this Consulate-General and its servants as well as the
Constitutional party. The latter I have restrained with much difficulty from
retaliating. The Attache found out that they had subscribed 900 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and
engaged some Caucasians to murder Yusuf and the other leaders. Fortunately
he was able to stop this Persian counterstroke by pointing out that it would
create the exact situation that was to be feared. On the evening of 14th
February a telegram was received by me from the Legation to the effect that the
ex-Shah had agreed to leave Persia. The next day I suggested to my colleague
that this should be communicated to the Karguzar conjointly. His reply was
that he had heard no such information and this is his attitude still. On 16th
February I suggested to the Legation that joint instructions in the sense desired
should be sent to the two Consulates.
I am convinced that my colleague is still the soul of the agitation and I hear
that he is being paid by the party of the ex-Shah. Yusuf communicates with
him through Akbar Buland and last night received six bank notes from him
with a message to retire from the fray for two or three days. My colleague has
sent copies of petitions in favour of the ex-Shah to his Legation, to the Tsar
and to the ex-Shah.
Whether or no there is double dealing in high quarters I cannot tell: but
the fact that my colleague continues to work for the ex-Shah and also denies
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