File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎256v] (144/280)

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unconfirmed report that the Swedes now remaining have said
that they will remain until the end of April and that they
will then leave Persia if no better arrangements have been made
by that time for supplying money for the gendarmerie. If Sweden
should enter this war on the side of Germany of course all of
the Swedes would be recalled from Persia. There has been
some confidential talk of Russia and England supplying arr
to Persia with which to fight Turkey. The cabinet is favorably
disposed to the idea but are afraid I believe to accept the pro
position because of what the mass of the people think and
what they would say I am positive that the Russian
Legation is entirely opposed to the present cabinet and that
it is working for its overthrow ....
Sincerely yours
J. N. Merrill.
P. S. It is rumored in the diplomatic colony here that
Churchill is to be shipped off to a consulate in Italy as he is
not too well trusted by Sir Walter 1 ).
Teheran, March 6 . 1915 -
Confidential.
Dear Major:
.... Two days ago the Prime Min. gave orders that no
one should accept any checks signed by the Treasurer General
(Heynsens) and the understanding is that the Min. of Finance
will sign checks hereafter Sir Walter left Wednesday
with Churchill for a place beyond Verramin to do some ex
cavating 2 ). They will be away ten days. The day after they
left the order was issued by the Prime Min. about the Treasurer
Generals’ signing checks Sir Walter said one day to
Wad: “I wish there was a man in the Persian cabinet with
force of character enough to kick out all the Swedes and Bel
gians and replace them by Americans.” ... I must say the
Swede reserve officers seem to be doing well. I have noticed
already an improvement in the discipline of the gendarmes —
Sir Walter I hear has been trying to appease without success
r ) Sir Walter Townley, the British Minister, Churchill’s chief.
2 ) Although France had secured the rights of excavating in Persia.
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