'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎82] (113/714)

PERSIA
caused. I believe, some offence; but how true they were appeared
only a few months afterwards in an explosion of scandal, wrong
doing, and intrigue, which shook the society of Transcaspia to
its foundations, and was not terminated until there had been a
complete and radical reconstruction in the personnel of the
Native 18 ' Government. Into the story itself, which is an unattrac-
changes |j ve one; J w ill not enter. The upshot of the entire
matter was that General Kuropatkin is now Governor-General of
Transcaspia in the place of General KomarofF, and that Colonel
Alikhanoff' has been removed from his important and responsible
post at Merv, and has been placed at the disposal of the military
authorities of the Caucasus. Simultaneously M. Tcharikoff, the
accomplished representative of Russia at the Court of Bokhara,
has been succeeded by my friend M Lessar, of Afghan Boundary
fame, and till recently Russian Consul-General in Liverpool.
Further to the east. G eneral Rosenbach no longer rules as Governor-
General at Tashkent, but has been replaced by General Vrevsky,
formerly head of the police at Odessa. General Annenkoff did not
escape in the universal wave of slander and denunciation, but
appears so far to have triumphed over his accusers. 1
These changes, the effect of which cannot fail to be consider
able, have been synchronous with the long-contemplated recon-
indepen- struction of the Transcaspian Government. An official
dence of decree was promulgated in St. Petersburg on March 29,
Trans-
caspia 1890, organising a separate administration for the
Government of Transcaspia. Henceforward the latter post is,
except in certain particulars, relieved from dependence upon the
Government of the Caucasus, and enjoys a limited independence,
analogous to that which prevails in Turkestan, including the privi
lege of direct correspondence with the Foreign Office at St.
Petersburg. This is a change that has long been discussed, if not
anticipated,, and that is thoroughly justified by the increasing
political weight and individuality of Transcaspia. Simultaneously
the four Khans of Merv, whom I described in my previous book,
have been deprived of administrative functions over their fellow-
tribesmen, while retaining their pensions of 120?. a year for life.
Their place has been taken by Russian officers. No more striking
1 In March 1891 it was announced that General Annenkoff would not again
return to Transcaspia as Director of the Railway, which was transferred to the
control of General Kuropatkin.