File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎229v] (90/280)

and had openly gone over to the Ex-shah, threatening the
town, “not to construct barricades or fight within the walls.
If they wished to fight they must do so outside the town” 1 ).
When the defeated Ex-shah fled to the Caspian Sea (ready
to land at any centres of fresh disorder as Grey cabled to Sir
G. Buchanan on September 14th) 2 ) the Persian Government
repeatedly pointed out to England and Russia that the sheltering*
of the Shah on Russian soil would constitute a violation of the
protocol of 1909, article 10, signed by Persia, England and
Russia and also of the recent declaration of neutrality. 3 )
M. Neratof replied to this that the Ex-Shah would be kept under
surveillance, but it was not possible for the Russian govern
ment to give a guarantee that his recent attempt would never
be renewed! 4 )
England, who booked to her moral credit all Persian
appeals for mediation, but refrained from giving practical
assistance, now took advantage of the straits Persia was in
owing to the military situation, to turn to account to the fullest
possible extent the struggle between the rival chieftains in
the South which had always existed. In the first place the
English consular troops in the South were re-enforced. On
October 24th, 1911, the Persian Government was informed by
England that 400 troops of cavalry were on their way to Persia
to protect English interests. The moving requests of the Per
sian Government that it might itself be allowed to restore
order and that the work of the gendarmerie under Swedish
orders, which had been so urgently desired by England, should
not be forestalled were in vain 5 ). The English measures gave
an opportunity for Russia to increase by 250 men its consular
troops in Isfahan and Resht 6 ).
The mask was dropped on October iStiy 1911, when Neratof
declared to the English charge d’affaires in St. Petersburg,
9 English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 332.
2 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 343.
3 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 340 and 350.
4 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 3 (1912) No. 361.
5 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 4 (1912) No. 29 and 37.
6 ) English Blue Books Persia No. 4 (1912) No. 67