'Persia. No 5 (1912). Further correspondence respecting the affairs of Persia' [‎295v] (76/154)

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The total amount, exclusive of compensation for Smart and stolen property, seems
to be on the same scale as that which the Russian Government propose to demand for
the casualties at Tabreez (see telegram of the 20th January from His Majesty’s
Ambassador at St. Petersburgh).
Our claim should be considered as a first charge on the next loan.
No. 140.
Sir G. Buchanan to Sir Edivard Grey. — (Received. January 28.)
(Telegraphic.) St. Petersburgh, January 28, 1912.
ON the receipt of Sir G. Barclay’s telegram of the 24th January I
addressed a private letter to M. Sazonof, and received a reply in which his Excellency
stated that as Mornard had already assumed office it was too late to express our
acquiescence in his acting appointment. He added that should M. Mornard prove
fitted for the post, he did not propose to raise any objection to the appointment being
made a permanent one.
In reply to this letter I pointed out that, in taking no notice of the acting
appointment of M. Mornard we should be neglecting the principle which the Russian
Government had themselves laid down in article 3 of their ultimatum to Persia.
In a letter which I have now received, M. Sazonof says that he cannot depart
froin what he said in his previous letter, as the position of M. Mornard vis-d-vis the
Persian Government would inevitably be weakened by any action such as we propose.
ITjs Excellency adds that his attitude in this matter does not constitute any
infringement of the principle laid down in the Russian ultimatum, since the two
legations at Tehran had themselves put forward M. Mornard’s name.
No. 141.
Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 29.)
(Telegraphic.) ^ Tehran, January 29, 1912.
YOUR telegram of 27th January : Persian treasury.
All but two of the Americans intend to leave Persia as soon as they have come to
terms with the Government in regard to certain payments to which they consider
themselves entitled. The two who propose to remain were officers of the treasury
gendarmerie who have placed themselves under the Swedish officers, now that the
national gendarmerie has absorbed the other force.
• No. 142.
Sir G. Buchanan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 29.)
St. Petersburgh, January 29, 1912.
(Telegraphic.)
YOUR telegram of the 27th January.
M. Sazonof is willing that a safe-conduct as far as Tehran should be given to
Zia-ed-Dowleh, now in bast at Tabreez. He agrees, moreover, not to demand that Zia
should be subjected to any punishments in excess of those enumerated in my telegram
of the 20th January. J ^
No. 143.
Sir G. Jruchanan to Sir Edicard Grey.—(Received January 31.)
(felegiaphic.) ^ St. Petersburgh, January 31, 1912.
n yAlArS the substance of the following extract from a despatch dated the
1st February j j r
I called on M. Sazonof yesterday to discuss with him the aide-memoire which I had
sen mn in accordance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the
27th ultimo. J 6