'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎93v] (170/236)

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No. 194.
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Marling.
(Telegraph 1c.) Foreign Office, July 13, 1908.
REFUGEES at Legation. With reference to your telegram of the 13th instant.
When asylum has once been sought it is not possible for us to guarantee subsequently
anything more than a safe conduct to the frontier, and protection can only be given
when there is imminent danger to life. This must be clearly understood. Unless we
adhere to the above limitation, leaders of any political party may, when affairs are
going adversely, use our Legation as a refuge in order that when more favourable
opportunity presents itself they may be enabled to renew operations. Our policy of
non-intervention in the internal affairs of Persia would be quite incompatible with the
position in which we should then be placed.
No. 195.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—[Received July 14.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, July 14, 1908.
YESTERDAY the Shah brought back from Khorassan, where they had been
imprisoned, the leaders of the roughs whom he employed in the gun square in December
last. Carriages were sent to meet them by the Shah’s orders.
No. 196.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—[Received July 14.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, July 14, 1908.
YESTERDAY about thirty of the refugees in His Majesty’s Legation took their
departure.
No. 197.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received July 15.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, July 15, 1908.
LAST night Zil -es-Sultan arrived in Ispahan. The Acting Consul-General reports
that, in order to settle the accounts of the Government of Ears and to arrange his own
affairs, His Imperial Highness wishes to pass a few weeks in that town. He would
then travel north, avoiding Tehran, and leave the country by that route.
I think that if ZiLes-Sultan remains at Ispahan the restoration of tranquillity in
the country will be rendered more difficult, and the Russian Minister shares this
opinion. Acting Consul-General has accordingly been instructed to warn His Imperial
Highness that His Majesty’s Government will feel themselves under no obligation to
obtain guarantees for him if he prolongs his stay, and that it would be best for him to
arrange as soon as possible for his departure.
No. 198.
Mr. Marling to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received July 16.)
(Telegraphic.) ^ t Tehran, July 16, 1908.
OW IN G to the connivance of a Persian soldier on duty at the main gate and the
momentary absence of the gliolam, six men managed to enter Legation on the night
of the 14th instant. It was only with great difficulty that they were persuaded to
leave on the following morning.
Again a crowd of some 200 persons made a determined effort to enter the compound
by a side gate last night about 8 o’clock. The other gates had been tried previously,
and the intruders eventually threatened to foice their way in. Though the gholams