File 3516/1914 Pt 14 'German War: Persia; general situation' [‎235r] (474/532)

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Telegram ¥., No. 955 S., dated the 16th September 1915.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
p. Department, Simla,
To—His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and Kain.
A reference is invited to opinion expressed in your telegram No. 210 C.,
dated the X2tli instant, to effect that Germans mean to make a dead set against
Sistan this winter, with which Minister concurred in his telegram No. 123 of
the 13th instant. Is this merely surmise or have you any definite evidence?
Repeated to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
230 l
Telegram P. y No. 340 F., dated the 15th (received 16th) September 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Urgent. Late yesterday afternoon my Eussian colleague and I called by
invitation on Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. There was a
complete change in their attitude. They professed utmost anxiety to put an
end to German propaganda and to protect Consul and almost implored that we
should give them financial assistance and arms. In fact they spontaneously
offered the assurances which you directed me to demand in your telegram men
tioned above. While my Russian colleague took up the attitude that before
giving any reply he must first consult bis Government I held out hopes to
them that former accommodation could be arranged but as Russian Govern
ment were of opinion that it would be impolitic to give financial support for
moment I did not feel justified in making definite promise.
Until end of war Persian Minister desires moratorium or its equivalent,
i.e., about 200,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. as from January 1st last and 10,000 rifles with
ammunition. As regards arms, I believe that we should find it very difficult
to supply any to Persian Government at once as those arms which were
captured from Turkish forces have already been disposed of and on this point
my Russian colleague also does not seem very hopeful. ^ Russian Minister and
I are agreed as regards money that it would be politic to at once assent to
request and he is telegrahing strongly in this sense to his Government. 1 ie
sum which is required by Persian Government each month is less than that
which His Majesty’s Government themselves were P re P ared ^
subsidy audit would be an easy enough matter to arrange that 200,000
Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per month should be advanced in name of two Governments m guise
of a moratorium and should Russian Government agree to share in arrange
ment proportion which they would bear could be settled later.
Retrospective effect of the moratorium which Government of Persia asks,
for involves a sum of about £300,01 G and it would be impossible without giave
risk of another run for Imperial Bank of Persia to f nance , 0 P™ tl0 b “ t a t “-ii
Russian Minister is however urging his Government to assent to it, but it wiU
only he possible to promise Persian Government whole or part of above sum
as soon as Banks have made necessary arrangemen s. . n
It must not be expected that against Germans y, ers j a “ .^XwaTS
b P ablpho do much but moral effect produced might be consideiabie by reason
influences, has had to appeal for . ass ^?f C t e en ^ to encourage our friends and to
counteract German campaign ; it u ou d attitude of Government has
discourage German supporters as hitherto the dual attitude ot govern
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