File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎227v] (86/280)

unrest in Persia. The Russian Government had further ex
pressly promised to take “efficient steps” to suppress every
political agitation on the part of the Ex-shah against Persia.
On July 18 th , 1911, Grey cabled to Sir G. Buchanan at
St. Petersburg “we both recognised the new Shah. I do not
see how we or Russia can acquiesce in return of Ex-shah. You
should ask Russian Government whether they will notify Wa
shah that under no circumstances can his return be allowed” 1 ).
On July 28th the captain and mate of the Russian
Steamer “ C hristophoros ” are dismissed from their posts be
cause they had communicated to the Press particulars of the
passage of the Ex-shah across the Caspian lake to Persia 2 ).
On July 29th the Persian Government puts a price on the
head of the Ex-shah of 100,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. and 25,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
each for the seizure of his brothers Shua-es-Sultaneh and
Salar-ed-Dowleh.
On July 31st the English and Russian ministers hand a
note to the Persian government stating: as the Shah has re
turned to Persia the British Government recognize that the Shah
has forfeited his right to the pension .... in the struggle...
they will take no part whatever 3 ).
In February and March 1912 England and Russia force
Persia to pay to the Shah whose Turkoman and Caucasian
bands (again for the most part Russian subjects) plunder the
Persian province of Mazanderan and have destroyed much pro-
perty, a pension of 75,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a year. Indeed they have
the effrontery to demand that Persia do not only grant an am
nesty to the Russo-Persian robber bands but reward them
with 70,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for the troubles caused by them 4 ). And
this thieves money is extorted by a new Anglo-Russian loan
on which Persia is to pay interest at the rate of 8%!
The activity of Shuster, which preceded these sad Anglo-
Russian breaches of trust had lasted eight months only. It
began as full of promise as perhaps that of no other statesman
in lecent times, \fyith undisguised surprise which soon in-
9 English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 191.
) Browne, Persian Press and Poetry, p. 330, July 28th 1911.
3 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 246.
4 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 5 (1912) No. 238.