'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎67v] (118/236)

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No. 96.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey. [Received January 28.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, January 28, 1908.
1903-1904 Loan. . ^ ^ ,
I have received a message from the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the effect that
interest on loan (which amounts, I presume, to 13,601/. Os. 9d.) will shortly be paid.
As regards the conditions we attach to suspension of sinking fund he also pi onuses,
but vaguely, to send a reply. As, however, he has frequently done so befoie,^ I
venture to suggest that, in order to bring his Excellency to the point, authonzation
may be given me to inform him in a written communication that His Majesty s
Government consider their conditions as tacitly accepted by Persian Government in
view of time that has elapsed.
No. 97.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 10.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, February 10, 1908.
ESCORT of Shiraz Consulate.
There is every indication that state of insecurity in Shiraz will last for some time,
and reports from His Majesty’s Consul show that disorders are likely to recur this
spring. Do His Majesty’s Government propose to retain indefinitely, or at least until
situation improves, the sowars who should have been relieved last November ?
I venture to urge advisability of making arrangements of a more permanent
character.
No. 98.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 17.)
Sir, Tehran, January 29, 1908.
IN the early days of the month, though externally the town was quiet enough, it
seemed as though another crisis might occur. The Shah, after a few days’ comparative
inactivity, recommenced his campaign against the Assembly. By his influence,
exercised through two of the great ecclesiastics, the party at the Masjid-i-Mervi had
been allowed to escape ; reinforcements for the body-guard were being brought into
Tehran by driblets ; the Parsees were terrorized by the murder of a prominent member
of their community for having assisted the popular cause with money and arms ; an
attack on Mushir-ed-Dowleh’s house, ascribed to burglars, was popularly believed to
have been an attempt organized from the Palace on the life of the Minister, for whom
the Shah is known to entertain a particular dislike.
On the 10th instant I had a long conversation with Nizam-es-Saltaneh, the new
Premier, in which, after explaining to his Excellency that the recent Anglo-Russian
Agreement was in no way inimical to Persia, but, on the contrary, left her free to develop
unhampered by the distracting rivalry of the two Powers, 1 adverted to the existing
situation, and asked his Excellency if he could suggest any means by which I could
help to remove the distrust felt universally of the Shah.
Nizam-es-Saltaneh replied that the only thing was to give the Shah good advice
and persuade him to follow it. I said I would see what I could do, and then adverted
to the murder of Fereidoun, and received a promise from the Premier that every effort
would be made to punish the assassins.
I was unable to see the Russian Minister the following day, but, in reply to a note
saying I proposed to call on Sunday, 1 received one from M. de Hartwig late in the
evening letting me know that he was to see the Shah the next morning for the purpose
of impressing on His Majesty the absolute need of good relations with the Assembly.
I happened to meet M. de Hartwig soon after he had left the Palace, and he told me he
had spoken to the Shah in the most serious manner, and believed that he had produced
some impression.
I told him of my conversation with Nizam-es-Saltaneh, that I had wished to
consult him (M. de Hartwig) before taking any such step as the Premier had hinted at