File 3516/1914 Pt 6 'German War: Persia; general situation May-July 1915' [‎62v] (129/484)

discordant notes as possible and creating a high tension. It is, therefore, not
surprising that the reports which reach me should he pitched in a very high
key, sounding a note of alarm which appears to me greatly exaggerated.
Prom more sources than one I am assured that, both before and since the
arrival on the 24th ultimo of MM. Zugmeyer and Greisinger, Pugin has been
enlisting from among the baser sort followers now numbering over sixty to
whom pay at a high rate and arms are given. Independently of these outsiders
are receiving arms. The total number of fire-arms distributed is variously
reported from 100 to 200.
It is represented to me that all the Persian officers of the Gendarmerie are
in close touch and full sympathy with Pugin and his creatures and that
the control which Captain Gleerup, the Swedish officer in command locally,
might attempt to exercise over his officers and men is a quantile negligeable.
° Shukrullah Khan Lumhani and his blatant band of Democrats, which has
lately been increasingly in evidence, is designated as another possible element
of danger. The attitude of the Bakhtiari Khans themselves in the event of
trouble is represented as questionable. Zargham-us-Sultaneh figures largely in
the popular mind and in my reports as the protagonist in an imaginary drama
reminiscent of those early days of 1909 when he rode into Ispahan with a hand
ful of followers. Several of the fledgling Khans, already adversely known to
us as mischief-makers, more particularly Salar-i-Ashraf, Muntazzim-ud-Dowleh
and Salar-i-Masoud (this last practically crazy) are said to be boasting openly
of the prowess they will show in massacring Armenians and looting the British
and Russian Banks. The attitude of Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Muhtasham towards would-be
agitators, clerical or others, is severely criticised by many of my r'eisian
friends one of whom onlv yesterday cited to me a remark recently made in
public by His Excellency‘to the effect that, perhaps it trouble did arise,
the Central Government would at last cause him to be paid his dues.
The same person, who is in touch with the clerical faction, remarked that
the clergy has only now come to recognise that they have kindled a fire which
they cannot quench, the flames of which must inevitably scorch the hem of
their own robes.
Thus far the local situation as pictured by the soothsayers of Ispahan.
To come down to sober facts. I am unable to find that so far British
interests or British subjects have suffered from all this pother. A certain
number of small boys have been intimidated from attending the Missionary
School. Since yesterday a run on the Bank, as yet of a very feeble nature
has been engineered. A large number of false reports re our position at
Basrah and elsewhere have been circulated with the connivance—as I
have reason to believe—of the higner authorities, and every effort has been
made to prevent the dissemination by me of correct reports of our operations
at Basrah, Ahwaz, the Dardanelles, &c., or to discredit such lying reports.
That I think is the sum total to date of the actual facts of the local situ
ation. It is not of an alarming nature.
I do not, however, shut my eyes to the off chance of possible troubles.
Given a large town with an idle and highly imaginative population, some
elements in which might furnish facile instruments in the hands of unscrupu
lous persons and it will be obvious that there is fine scope for the enemy.
While drafting this despatch, I have received a visit from the Deputy
Governor ( Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Eatheh), who represented that he came both on behalf of
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Muhtasham and himself to ask my advice in regard to the present
attitude of the clergy.
I demurred to give this on the ground that the Governor-General must
know his own business and his own countrymen muen better than I do.
Pressed farther, I enquired if it would not be possible for Ain-ud-Dowleh to
invite the leading Mollas of Ispahan (and other large towns) to Tehran, to
confer with him on the situation.
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Eatheh said that that was exactly his own idea. Bailing such
action on Ain-ud-Dowleh’s paitthe Governor-General and he himself, who both