'Persia. No 1 (1910). Further correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia.' [‎286v] (170/179)

P.S. October 31.—Since writing the above I have learned from my Russian
colleague that his Government have decided to withdraw the bulk of the Kazvin force.
Sixty men are to be left at Kazvin, and between 400 and 500 are to remain for the
moment at Resht and Enzeli.
G. B.
No. 269.
Si/ G. Barclay to Sir Hdward Grey.—{Received November 22.)
T TTATn^xi . Tehran, November 1^0^.
1 MAY It the honour to enclose herewith the usual monthly summary of events in
?io 4- K /-'v 1 ^
Persia for the past four weeks.
I have, &c.
G. BARCLAY.
Inclosure in No. 269.
Summary of Events in Persia for four weeks ending November 4, 1909.
Tehran.
VOSOUK-ED-DOWLEH, a prominent Nationalist, has succeeded Prince Farman
Farma as Minister of Justice. This appointment is a new departure, as Vosouk-ed-
Dowleh has so far never held Ministerial office.
Nasr-ul-Mulk arrived at Tehran on the 30th October.
^ The Government is still of a provisional nature pending the convocation of
Parliament, and the Ministers are assisted by the committee, which has periodical
sittings to discuss matters of public interest. The proceedings of this committee are
published in t he press, and these accounts seem to show that the committee acts as a
f)rovisional Parliament. Foreign and internal politics are discussed and the acts of the
Ministei s are criticised, and general supervision over the Government is exercised in a
somewhat informal manner.
Ihere are about sixty-four deputies in Tehran, which is just over the necessarv
quorum of sixty-one, but there is as yet no sign of the convocation of Parliament. It
is said that the credentials of some of the provincial candidates are probably not in
order and it is preferred to wait for a substantial majority in order to be certain of a
quoium. The Parliament building, moreover, which was nearly wrecked by the
bombardment of 1908, is still undergoing repairs and does not appear to be nearly
ready. It is hoped, however, that the House will sit before the end of November
G. P. CHURCHILL.
Tabr
eez.
The nineteen members of the National Assembly for Azerbaijan have been
elected. Ihey are on the whole, men of integrity, and, if led properly by capable
party leaders, should become a useful force for reform. Five of them, including Taki
Zadeh and Musteshar-ed-Dowleh, were members of the former National Assembly.
Only four lesser mollahs are included in the nineteen; this is indicative of the eclipse
of clericalism, perhaps the most significant feature of the election. Seventeen of the
nineteen members belong to Tabreez itself; it is regretted that the outlying parts of
the province are not better represented, but this is to some extent due to the electoral
law itself. In the opinion of the governor-general the system of direct election would
have secured a juster and wider representation in Azerbaijan.
With the exception of the Ardebil district Azerbaijan has remained quiet. The
trouhie at Ardebil is due to Rahim Khan, who, immediately after the withdrawal of
the Russian detachment from Ahar, collected a force, and at the same time instigated
the Shahsevans some of whose chiefs had already made terms with the new Govern
ment, to rebellion. The combined forces had by the 22nd October, practically
surrounded Ardebil, and a good deal of fighting took place. The telegraph-lines were
cut, so that news was much delayed. The governor-general took immediate steps to