'Persia. No 1 (1909). Correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia, December 1906 to November 1908' [‎122v] (228/236)

No. 310,
Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey,—^{Received November 19.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, November 19, 1908.
SHAH and Constitution.
I have been informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the institution of a
Council to be appointed by His Majesty is contemplated by the Shah. I have expressed
my disappointment that the Shah should in such a fashion seek to evade his pledges,
and I have pointed out that it is an essential feature of any constitutional regime that
there should be an Assembly elected by the people. The two or three Ministers to
whose sinister influence the present deplorable state of the country is largely due
would have complete control over the Council it is proposed to appoint.
I think that, should no satisfactory measure be announced during the next few
days, further steps at Bagh-i-Shah should be taken by the two Legations. The action
of the two Legations should, I am of opinion, be taken in common.
The Shah, who would talk more freely and openly to our dragomans than to the
Representatives, might be asked to receive them, and our representations mio-ht
usefully take the form of a frank conversation.
It would be the task of the dragomans to endeavour to make His Majesty under
stand that the two Governments were equally desirous of seeing the tranquillity of
Persia restored and her prosperity safeguarded, and that by urging the establishment
of a constitutional regime they were best helping him to realize these objects. The
lines of the previous representations would be followed by the dragomans in their
conversation, and they would press His Majesty to consult the few men capable of
giving good advice as to what form the Assembly best suited to the needs of the
country should take.
M. Sabline, to whom I have given a rough sketch of the lines of the proposed
conversation, concurs, and is telegraphing to his Government accordingly.
No. 311.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A, Nicolson.
(Telegraphic.) Foreiun Office, November 20, 1908.
SHAH and Constitution.
The Russian Representative will, I hope, be instructed to act in the sense of the
suggestion made in Sir G. Barclay’s telegram of yesterday’s date, to which I entirely
agree.
No. 312.
Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received November 22.)
(telegraphic.) $t. Petersburqh, November 22, 1908.
YOUR telegram of the 20th instant.
Russian Representative at lehran has already been instructed to act in accordance
with Sir G. Barclay’s suggestion. * Sii
No. 313.
Sii G. Bai clay to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received November 22.)
(Telegraphic.) Tehran, November 22, 1908.
SHAH and Constitution.
ihe Grand Vizier informed me yesterday that the Shah, as a result of the
demonstration against the Constitution which was held at Baghi Shah on Thursday,
has sent a Rescript to be printed, in which he declares that he will not grant an
Assembly which is contrary to Islam. Though the w r ording of the document is
purposely vague, it is generally understood to mean that 11 is Majesty refuses to grant
an elective Assembly of any kind.