'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎93r] (169/236)

6ur other demands must be scrupulously observed, would produce a most unfortunate
impression.
As regards the first part, I venture to suggest that I be authorized to inform the
Shah through the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the limit of absence from Persia will
be one year; that His Majesty’s Government cannot accept the second part; and that
the second and third parts together constitute an excuse for nullifying the effect of the
amnesty.
No. 192.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received July 13,J
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, July 13, 1908.
I HAVE received a message from the Shah that His Majesty modifies his
conditions in regard to the bastis.
For Taki Zad4 and a popular orator the period of absence is reduced to one and
a-half years, and for three others to one year. The sixth refugee is now omitted from
the list ; he is, however, ready to go to Europe voluntarily.
No alteration is made in the second conditions, but with regard to the third the
Shah renews assurances of his intention to fulfil his engagements.
I think that in the circumstances I can continue to urge the refugees to leave the
Legation, but they still show the greatest reluctance to go. Some may possibly
absolutely refuse. Should I be justified in ejecting them?
Two persons have been released under No. 3 of our demands.
Serdar Mansur is to be sent to Khorassan, and Jelal-ed-Dowleh and Ala-ed*
Dowleh proceed to Europe.
The persons in refuge in the French Legation have gone.
General apprehension continues in spite of these reassuring signs, and people
who are under the impression that their lives are in danger are constantly saying that
they wish to come to Gulahek. I am in hopes of being able to prevent them from
doing this.
No. 193.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Marling.
(Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, July 13, 1908 s
REFUGEES at Legation.
With reference to your telegrams of the 11th and 13th instant.
First point, I understand that the period of absence from the country h&S been
adjusted in a satisfactory manner ; second point, it is not possible to raise an objection
to requirement that four of the refugees shall proceed to their own homes ; nor to the
third point, the adoption of precautions to insure that “ bastis ’ do nothing against the
existing Government whilst remaining under guarantee in Persia.
It is impossible for us to ask for better terms than these. We do not wish to
intervene in Persian internal affairs, and it must therefore be understood that refuge
was only granted in Legation in order to save life, and not to lend assistance to any
political enterprise. The protection which we have secured must be dependent on
subsequent peaceable behaviour on part of refugees.
You should give the above explanation to the “bastis,” but you should not employ
force to oblige them to leave. I presume that when they know that these terms are
final they will not remain indefinitely.
The Shah should be informed, on the other hand, that the refugees must remain
unmolested in Persia as long as their behaviour continues peaceable.