Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎269r] (537/678)

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government, I
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NO. 7. PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY.
ASIA.
[June 15.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 2-
2480
No. 1.
Sir M. Durand to the Mara L uess of Salisbury.—{Received June 15, 1896.)
(No. 87.)
My Lord, Tehran, May 15, 1896.
I HAVE .the honour to transmit herewith a summary of frontier news from
the 16th April to the 14th May.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. M. DUEAND.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of Frontier News from April 16 to May 14, 1896.
IN spite of the assassination of the Shah, the country has been surprisingly
quiet, and there have been no disturbances of a serious nature. Prices have risen
considerably in the large centres owing to the insecurity of the roads and the
consequent reluctance of the peasants to bring provisions in from the country. But
this was to be expected. Looting has taken place on the Shiraz road, and some
villages have been destroyed by nomadic Kashgais, but energetic measures were at
once taken for the suppression of the marauders.
Tabriz., —In Azerbijan, where danger was to be feared owing to possible Kurdish
incursions and consequent complications, nothing serious has occurred, and the resolve
of the new Shah to march to Tehran with only two regiments instead of denuding the
province of nearly its whole garrison, as at first reported, will materially conduce to
the peace of the district.
Meshed. —From reports from Mr. Ney Elias very considerable interest has been
excited in the minds of the Bussian officials at Meshed regarding our Afghan-Beluch
and Beluch-Persian Boundary Commissions. Mr. Elias describes an interview with
the Russian Consul-General. M. Vlassow called and expressed great anxiety about
the insanitary state of Sistan. He had information that yellow fever had appeared
there, and was afraid he should have to send his Russian doctor to inquire into the
matter on the spot.
Mr. Elias reminded him that he had already fished for cholera, typhus, and
plague in Sistan without success, and recommended that the investigating doctor
should be sent rather to South America or the West Indies if he wished to study
yellow fever.
M. Vlassow urged that it was really a serious matter, that his Government were
in earnest, and he seemed suprised that Mr. Elias had not heard of the epidemic.
Mr. Elias replied that the only epidemic of which he had heard was the fever
that had broken out among the Russian troops in trans-Caspia, and finally suggested
that it was late in the season for travelling in Sistau, and that both the Boundary
Commissions were expected to finish their work by the end of April.
This, M. Vlassow seemed hardly able to believe, and thought they must last
a year at least, if not two years, but on returning to the subject of the yellow fever, he
said that he must really try and save his doctor from the dangerous duty of visiting
Sistan in the hot season.
From reports from Meshed the proposed Russian railway from Merv to the
Afghan frontier appears to be still in a very elementary stage.
Mohammerah. —It is reported from Mobammerab that crops are looking very
promising. Messrs. Hotz and Co. appear to have obtained permission to ship more
grain; natives are also shipping. There is not any large amount of grain remaining
for sale
(Signed) PERCY C. WYNDHAM.
Tehran, May 15, 1896.
[1366 d—2]