'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎60v] (104/236)

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a-Vear, they stated that 450,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. represented deductions from or the entire
suppression of, the pensions of thirteen persons, including those of the deceased
Atabeg and Mushir-ed-Dowleh. Taki Zade made a speech dealing with the dissatisfac
tion apparent on the part of the Shah and his courtiers at these arrangements, m which
he intimated that if the Shah would not fall in with the Budget arrangements the
House would be obliged to pay the Conrt^ officials itself and pay the fehah only the
balance of about 30,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. out of the C ivil List. . . .
On the 14th November the question of the appointment of M. bizot as f inancial
Adviser was again discussed in the presence of the Minister for Foreign Aflairs, who
pressed the House to agree to the draft contract. After considerable debate the
draft contract was agreed to, though no votes were taken.
The general state of disorder in the country having become worse, representa
tives of the amalgamated Committees addressed a statement of their demands to
the House on the 19th November, in which they insisted on immediate steps being
taken for the restoration of order, and asked the House^ to force the Princes and
Nobles who had subscribed certain sums to the National PaiiK to pay their subscuptions
in cash • -i p i . . ,
On the 21st November it was apparent by the attitude of the two principal
Mujteheds that there was considerable dissatisfaction among the public as^ to the
progress made by the Assembly. Seyed Mohammed said in the House, Wb heard
much praise of a constitutional form of government. If this is the result there is no
advantage in it. Is it not the duty of the Sovereign to prevent disorders ? Under
present conditions life in this city is impossible.” t .
On the 22nd November, the Prime Minister, the Ministers for War, Justice, and
Commerce being present, there was some debate on the subject of ttm proposed army
reform. No decision was arrived at, but the Minister for War promised to hand in
his reform scheme in a week’s time. During the course of the debate some remarks
were made on the subject of the independence of the Pussian Colonel of the Cossack
Brigade. The President said that he was to blame for the previous day’s free fight which
had occurred between his Cossacks and the native “ Silakhor ” regiment.
On the 23rd November a number of Deputies were selected to form different
Committees, including one for Foreign Affairs, the duties of which are to comprise
superintendence over the Ministry for Foieign Affairs, and investigation into all
foreign Treaties, contracts, and Concessions.
The intrigues of the Shah’s agents, especially Saad-ed-Dowleh, having assumed a
threatening character—-as evinced by the artificial agitation of persons whose pensions
had been reduced, and the affray between Cossacks and the “ Silakhor ” regiment on
the 21st November—a heated debate took place on the subject, in which Taki Zadd
took a prominent part. The public was then asked to withdraw, and the debate con
tinued with increased vigour. The Shah’s agents were denounced by name, including
M. Chapchal, who is attached to the Shah in the capacity of Chamberlain. Saad-ed-
Dowleh and Amir Behadur were also loudly denounced, and it was strongly urged by
some Deputies that they should be expelled from the country. The Prime Minister,
who was present, on being appealed to, admitted that he was aware of some unknown
force at work against them. It was decided to hold a special private sitting the
following day, at which the Cabinet Ministers should attend to discuss the situation.
On the 27th November the Assembly held a private Session, but the Ministers
were detained at the Palace. The President announced that the Shah desired to
receive a deputation of the Members, and ten Members were chosen and proceeded to
the Palace.
On the 28th November, at a public sitting, the Shah’s written Address to the
deputation of the previous day was read. His Majesty insisted on the necessity of
entirely separating the executive duties of the Government from the legislative
powers of the Assembly, and laid stress on the lamentable state of disorder into which
the whole country had fallen. He finally urged the suppression of those local Com
mittees which unduly interfered in Government affairs and were a cause of a disturb
ance of the public peace, and announced that his Ministers had been given orders to
effect their suppression. The Assembly, after carefully considering what reply they
should give to the Shah’s Message, drew up, in consultation with the Chief Mujteheds,
an answer thanking His Majesty for his gracious communication, assuring him that
the Assembly did not desire to confound the duties of the Executive and Legislative
Bodies, but desired to restrict its action to the drawing up of laws and to the super
vision of their execution. Begarding the suppression of undesirable local Committees,
they reminded the Shah of Article 21 of the Constitution of the 8th October, allowing