'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎86r] (155/236)

has been invited to take refuge in ray Legation at Tehran, and although certain of
your subjects have sought refuge there in fear of their lives, your Majesty is well
aware that it is not the custom of your country to refuse asylum to refugees who are
not guilty of crime. Those that are already in my Legation will leave on satisfactory
guarantees being given. The statement in your Majesty’s telegram that my Charg<5
d’Affaires has invited mischief-makers to the Legation is the direct contrary of the
truth, for he has done everything consistent with the recognized customs of Persia to
discourage all persons from taking refuge there. The conduct of your troops ^ in
surrounding my Legation and arresting those who came out of it is an indignity which
cannot be tolerated, and unless steps are immediately taken to put an end to this
situation, I and mv Government will be reluctantly compelled to take measures to
vindicate the honour of my flag.
“ I have every confidence in the prudence and good faith of my Chargd d Affaires
at Tehran. It is unfortunate that for more than two years there has been no Persian
Minister in London with whom my Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs can discuss
matters affecting the relations of the two countries, although I accepted in October
1906 the appointment by your Majesty of a new Persian Minister, who, I understand,
is still in Berlin.”
No. 160.
Mr. O'Beirne to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 30.)
(Telegraphic.) Petersburgh, June 30, 1908.
YOUB telegram of the 27th instant.
M. de Hartwig has been instructed to concert with Mr. Marling as to best
method of giving the desired publicity to the joint communication made to the Shah by
the two Representatives.
No. 161.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 30.)
(Telegraphic.) . Tehrun ’ June 29 > 1908 -
TROOPS round His Majesty’s Legation.
The Persian Government have sent an unsatisfactory reply to my representation,
containing no word of apology. . ^ r j 4 --
It is- clear that the patrols have been stationed so that a constant and enective
watch may be exercised over the Legation, while notice of any one entering or leaving
the Legation is given by the police, who are posted under the garden walls ; in tact,
though somewhat less ostentatious than it was previously, the investment is as effective
as before.
No. 162.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 30.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran ’ Jme 30 > 1908 -
MY immediately preceding telegram. . 1 . , . , ,
Minister for Foreign Affairs sent me a telegram late last night m which by
command of the Shah, he expressed deep regret at recent incidents, and stated that
stringent orders had been given in the proper quarters. ^ Occurrences were due, e
said to a misunderstandi <r on the part of over-zealous officials.
’in my official reply I said that 1 would submit his explanation to my Government,
but in a private note I warned His Highness that I doubted whether Hm Majesty s
Government would deem a mere apology sufficient reparation for the indignities so
publicly offered to His Majesty’s Legation. j + i „ „„rl T
His Majesty’s Legation has been for five days practically under taboo, and
verv earnestly hope that His Majesty’s Government will not accept this apology.
Troops have within a few yards of the gates of the Legation stopped British subjects,
the Indian sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. and a gholam, both in uniform, m charge of the Foreign Office
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