File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎434r] (878/1128)

CONFIDENTIAL.
<P
'ff .Sw^.7
5 :
I iqi7 I
v — * ;
1
4
Meshed Diary No. 23, for the week ending the 9th June 1917.
^ - .
' •• i'/x
1. Persian officials. —The Governor-General informs us that Mushawar-ul-
Mumalik was appointed to be his Peshkar vice Mushar-us-Saltanah, and that he
will shortly arrive from Tehran.
2. Amin-i-Hamayun has left for Tehran on the completion of his enquiry
into Shrine affairs (paragraph 5 of Diary No. 20).
3. Ala-us-Saltanah has telegraphed to the Karguzar announcing his appoint-
ment as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
4. Some prominent persons have telegraphed, to Tehran asking for the
rerappointment of Shahzada Naiyur-ud-Daulah as Governor-General of Khorasan.
5. Agha Muayid-ul-Wizara, the late Karguzar of Tun, Tabas, etc., who was
deported to Russia 16 months ago has, on release and return to Persia, been
re-appointed to his former post.
6. Persian affairs. —M. Kornelis called upon me on the 5th instant to discuss
the grain question. He objects to be directed to sell the Government grain at
Tumans 15 per kharwar while private owners are allowed to sell for what they can
get provided that the bread rate does not rise above 2 krans per man. The
Governor-General is protesting against the direct sale from the Revenue office to
the public according to a recent order of the Home Secretary, as he loses his
profit by the discontinuance of the system whereby it was sold through him. The
matter is still under discussion : the zeal of M. Kornelis for Government interests is
shared by no section of the community and he is meeting with considerable
opposition.
7. Two persons arrested for complicity in the murder of the late Rais-i-
Nazmiah have been deported from Meshed by the Governor-General.
8. British affairs. —The Birthday of His Majesty the King-Emperor was
celebrated on the 4th instant by a garden party and illuminations. The former was
attended by His Excellency the Governor-General, the Karguzar and all principal
officials, and the Russian Consul-General and Military Commanding Officer with
their staffs, etc. On 5th instant representatives of the mercantile community were
entertained at a similar party, and care was taken on both occasions to remove any
false impression which might have been caused by the rumour of a revolution in
the United Kingdom (paragraph 11 of Diary No. 20).
9. Messrs. Donaldson and Hoffman of the American Presbyterian Mission
proceeded to Jaghark on the 6th instant to inspect the (private) summer residence
of this Consulate which I have lent them for this season. They found the house in
possession of a band of ten Zushkis who had taken sanctuary on our premises against
the oppression of the Chief Muhammad Zabirullah. The interview which followed
was cordial, but I have complained officially to the Governor-General and am
sending an official to Jaghark to enquire.
10. Russian affairs. —The Kuchanis have received a re-assuring telegram from
the Home Secretary in reply to their complaints regarding export of grain to Russia.
11. It is reported from Sarakhs that the local Russian community have held
a ceremonial gathering in honour of the new regime in Russia. The Governor,
Karguzar, and other officials of Persian Sarakhs, were invited to attend.
12. Meshhedi Abdullah, the local Russian Tajir-hashi, is in trouble with the
Askabad authorities. He promised them 5,000 khanvars of grain and is now unable
to fulfill his contract owing to a purchase which he was on the point of making
having been prevented by order of the Persian Government.
13. Dabir-us-Sultan (paragraph 10, last week) has not succeeded in obtaining
a verdict in his land dispute with the Kuchanis j M. Nicolsky and the Kargzuar
having declined to re-open it. 2 il c I ;.E i;;
— 1 INDIA F, .'i-IGN SECDET':
Letter,
Dated
Bacei
No. 54 M
13 JUL 1917
f
: ji
7.1
m'
IB
1917
A