File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎96r] (202/1128)

CONFIDENTIAL.
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Meshed Diary No. 32 for the week ending the 1 Oth August 1918.
1. Persian officials Shahzadah Mustafa Mirza, the late Governor of Turshiz,
arrived at Meshed on the 9th instant.
2. On the evening of the 3rd instant I called upon the Kawwam-us-Saltanah
to discuss the replacement of the present Governors of Darajaiz and Kalat, and
found that for Darajaiz he had selected the man for whose appointment I intended
to press. This is the Matamid-ul-Wizarah for whom we have tried to find a post
for some time. A suitable man will also be nominated to Kalat.
3. Persian affairs (local). —The Governor-General has telegraphed to Tehran
recommending that the following Government sowars should be posted at once
to guard the frontiers :—65 at Khaf ; 65 at Darajaiz ; 60 at Sarakhs ; and 65 at
Bajgiran. He proposes to add to this number himself, later.
4. The elections for the Meshed Municipal Council are concluded. The large
majority of the successful candidates are domocrets : though many of them are of
the moderate order.
5. The Governor-General’s indignation has been aroused by the publication
in Meshed of a circular from the Ministry of Commerce, etc., which was apparently
sent direct to the local office without going through him. He has confiscated the
copies of the circular, and has referred the matter to Tehran.
6. Persian affairs (general). —There are no further cholera reports, and the
danger of the disease reaching Meshed seems to be at an end for the present. The
quarantine arrangements have worked better this year than last: no doubt owing
to the efiorts of Dr. Amir ’Alam of Tehran, who is still in Meshed, and the advice
given by our Medical Officers. \
7. The Hazara Chief, Saiyid Haidar, is finding some difficulty in realising the
200 rifles required of him by the Governor-General (paragraph 6 of Diary No. 30).
His secretary, one Sarfaraz Khan is determined to get his master into trouble, and
has told all the elders to deny the possession of arms in order to compel Saiyid
Haidar to take them from the petty land-owners who have one or more rifles for
self protection : knowing that this will lead to disturbance in the tribe.
8. British affairs.-— IlYlq value of the goods which paid duty at the Meshed
Customs House only during the month of Sartan (22nd June to 23rd July) amounts
to fourteen and-a-half lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. according to the present official rate of
exchange for Consular reports, viz., ^0 krans Xo £l sterling or 15 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . More
than thirteen lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees represents soft sugar, which was formerly imported from
Russia. It is believed that few factories and refineries are now working in Russia,
and there is now a demand for sugar from the same districts from which it was
formerly imported.
The Governor-General has forbidden the export to Russia of various articles of
which sugar is one ; the reason given being the fear of rise in local prices. Raw
silk is another such article : it is believed to be indispensable for the manufacture
of military balloons.
9. On the night of the 7th and again on that of the 8th instant the Meshed-
Sistan telegraph line was interrupted ; on the first occasion near Turbat-i-Haidari,
and on the second at Rui Khaf. Investigation shewed that the second interrup
tion was almost certainly the result of some mistake on the part of one of our own
people, but the first was undoubtedly caused by some outside influence. Turbat-
i-Haidari being a strong democrat centre foul play is suspected, and enquiries are
being made. The temporary appointment of a British Vice-Consul at Turbat
would be useful, and is again being recommended, in view of the obstructive
influence in the town.