'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎119r] (242/610)

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in 1912, which defined 1 Russian, British, and Neutral zones of
influence in Persia and was intended to check the Anglo-Russian
rivalry that was distracting the country, Russian activities were
curtailed in Central and Southern Persia, but despite British
diplomatic protests, Russia continued to exert pressure on the
Tehran Government, and consolidated her influence until
Northern Persia became virtually a Russian protectorate.
Since the collapse of Russia, the Convention has been abro
gated, and Great Britain has been the single predominant
power in the whole of Persia, and has maintained a garrison
along the Kirmanshah-Hamadan-Kazvin road to keep order in
Northern Persia, and has supplied money to carry on the
administration.
The Persians so far recognize their own weakness, that
from time to time they have sought the assistance of foreign
advisers, some of whom have made an uphill struggle for reform
but not a few have been content to drift with the tide. Since
the beginning of the 19th century various Experiments have
been made in engaging foreign officers to organize a military
force. The most modern are the organization of Persian Cos
sacks under Russian officers in 1879, a force which owing to
Russian Government support lasted 3 longer than any other
Persian force under foreign officers, and of the Gendarmerie
under Swedish officers in 1911. This force expanded rapidly
from 1911 to 1914, but on the outbreak of the war the regular
Swedish officers were recalled to Sweden. Non-regular officers
succeeded them, and in 1915 most of the Gendarmerie went
over to the Turks and Germans. The present Gendarmerie is
a resuscitation of the pre-war Gendarmerie, but has only
three Swedish officers. Swedes also are employed in the
Police. The South Persia Rifles with British officers and
non-commissioned officers were a force raised by the British
Government during the war, and not directly controlled by
he Persian Government.
In the department of Finance, the Customs have been
organised and administered by Belgians since 1900. 4 19 * *
1 The RmUan zone was bounded by a line drawn from Qasr-i-Shmn, through
Y&zd and Kh&kh to a point on the Persian frontier adjoining the intersection
of the Russian and Afghan frontiers. The British zone was bounded by a line
from Bandar Abbas through Kirman, Rirjand, and Gaziic to the Afghan frontier
near Gazik. The boundary towns mentioned were included within the Russian
and British zones respectively, and the neutral zone lay between them.
a See Chapter Vf, p iges 23 -9.
* The Russian officers and N\ C. Os were dismissed by the Persian Govern
ment at the instance of the British in November 1920.
* The full complement is 25.