'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎263r] (530/610)

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APPENDIX D.
Historical sketch continued irom June 1920 (page 66) to
the end ot1921.
Aftef tie resignation of Vnsuq-ud-DarJei a ^derate
Nationalist Cabinet was formed on 5th July by Mustnr mier , .hiiy to
Dauleh in which Mustaufi-ul-Mamalik was included as Minister OctoberJ920.
without portfolio. This Cabinet enjoyed British support
and it was hoped that its more democratic composition would
render it strong and popular. The British point of view was
that the Anglo-Persian Agreement was hanging fire and that
it would be well to conciliate public opinion and endeavour
to obtain its ratification by the Majlis according to the Persian
Constitution. And with the recrudescence of Russian activity
in North Persia British influence was no longer unchallen 0 -
The continuance until October of the monthly subsidy of
350,000 ‘ tumans ’ was guaranteed to the Persian Govern ,
who were to be subject to no control in their expenditure and
in return undertook to convene the Majlis as early as P 088 *
with a view to the ratification of the Agreement. Meanwhile
pending the decision of the Majlis they insisted that no British
advisers should assume duties in the Persian Departments,
and General Huddleston and his assistant officers in the Centi
Brigade and Mr. Armitage Smith’s financial staff were with-
drawn. Mushir-ud-Dauleh, however, failed to assemble
Majlis and was frightened by the prospect of financml stnngency
In October after the flight of the Persian Cossacks from Easht
the dismissal of their Eussian officers was urged by the British
Legation at the instance of General Ironside, Gener
pain’s successor in command of the British Forces m ^ or
Persia ; Mushir-ud-Dauleh refused to take this step and resigne .
Sipahdar-i-A’zam was willing to take office and after some SipaMar
delav formed a Cabinet on November 13th. His first action Novem ^ er 1920
wa s to dismiss the Eussian officers. A proposal was made-February
for the immediate re-organisation of a Persian force by Butish
officers, but pending the fate of the Agreement this was not
accepted by the British Government. After the failure. of
this proposal the Persian Cabinet lapsed into inertia, which
was facilitated by the postponement of a financial crisis through
Mr. Armitage Smith’s success in establishing a claim for
£1,000,000 arrears of royalty due from the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company. Indeed the situation was growing increasingly