'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎116v] (216/236)

Imperial Bank of Persia or the Banque de Prets would lend money to Mushir-es-
Sultaneh on the security of the jewels, knowing that the loan would eventually he
transferred, under a “dastkhatt” of the Shah, to Government account. I agreed also
in his view that the only way to put an end to the ruinous and crazy efforts of the
Government to obtain money was to make its acquisition as difficult as possible, while
letting it he understood that the sole hope of obtaining pecuniary assistance from the
two Governments or the hanks lies in accepting a reasonable measure of reform.
The same afternoon M. Bizot consulted both the Russian Minister and the Russian
Pinancial Agent, and, finding them both of the same opinion as himself, it was
arranged, subject to my concurrence, that M. Bizot and M. Ostrogradsky should call
on the Prime Minister the following day and tell his Excellency that so long as the
existirqg regime in financial affairs continues the Goyernment need not look for any
assistance either from the Legations or the banks.
The two gentlemen fulfilled their mission at Baghd-Shah on the following day.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES M. MARLING.
No. 278.
Mr, Marling to Sir Edward Grog.—[Received October 26.)
Sir, Tehran, September 30, 1908.
WITH reference to my despatch of the 10th September, I have the honour to
transmit herewith a copy of a note dated the 18th instant from the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, embodying the Shah’s “dastkhatt” in reply to the identic communication
from the British and Russian Legations, advising His Majesty to take steps to
convoke the Medjliss on the 14th November, and to let his intention to do so be known
in Tabreez.
The reply when at last received was indeed scarcely distinguishable from a flat
refusal to regard the advice of the two Powers. So unsatisfactory, indeed, was it that
the Russian Minister felt impelled to send a message to the Shah insisting that His
Majesty must take some immediate step to correct the bad impression which must be
produced in London and St. Petersburgh, and to avoid more insistent representations
by the two Legations. On the 21st instant M. de Hartwig succeeded in obtaining a
half-promise that the modified electoral law would be published on the 24th instant,
and that the Medjliss would be convened on the 1st (14th) November, the date
specified in the identic communication, and on the 22nd instant the Minister for
Foreign Affairs called on me and, referring to a private letter in which I had warned
his Highness that the Shah’s reply could not be well received by His Majesty’s
Government, asked me if the Shah’s promised announcement commended itself to me.
I told his Highness that I was convinced of the wisdom of the step, as, I gather from
a note I have received from him, was the Russian Minister also. Ala-es-Sultaneh
then asked if I would be willing to discuss the political situation with the Shah, who,
he said, was desirous of explaining his position to me. I said that considering that
His Majesty had asked for my recall some two months ago it was strange that he
should now be wishing to receive me, but that I was, of course, at His Majesty’s orders
and an audience was accordingly arranged for the 21th.
The Shah received me in a small double tent open all round and with heavily
embroidered velvet on the inner roof. After inquiring after my health His Majestv
expressed his regret that he had not seen me for so long ! It was some little tinA
however, before His Majesty touched on political matters, and no sooner had I beomn
to urge on him the expediency in his own interest of following the advice tendered
by the Governments of Great Britain and Russia, than he assured me that the
Imperial Rescript containing the new electoral law and announcing an early date for
the elections and the meeting of Parliament would be published the same day. I said
I was rejoiced to hear His Majesty’s wise decision, which could not fail to «ive the
greatest satisfaction to His Majesty’s Government. The Shah then went on to speak
ol the late Medjhss; he said that it was composed of ignorant and desmnnm men
whose aim had been to create trouble directed against himself; that they had been
supported by the equaRy evii and interested Anjumens ; that they had interfered in
all kinds ol questions quite outside their competency, and that he" hoped that under
the new electoral law a really useful Assembly would be created. I said that I
ventured to differ from His Majesty on one point; the late Medjliss might have been