Coll 28/112A ‘Persia. Tabriz – Monthly despatches of internal situation in Azerbaijan & misc. reports.’ [‎579v] (1161/1237)

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and the British market is not interested, partly because of the high cost of
transportation to the nearest Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. port.
11. Pro-German and anti-allied talk and sentiment seem to have been
increasing lately, and there is no doubt that our set-backs in the Far East ai^?
having their effect. If we imagine that any Persians (except perhaps a fe^
self-seeking or time-serving individuals in Tehran) like or appreciate us any
the more for the treaty, we are likely to be mistaken. Nobody here expects the
Russians to adhere to their undertaking to leave Persia after the peace, and.
while we ourselves may perhaps be regarded as more likely to keep our word, the
fact of our signing the treaty at all can easily be construed by the oriental mind
into a sign of nervousness or weakness on our part. I have never heard the
slightest expression of gratitude for all the wheat, sugar and other supplies
we are well known to have brought into Persia, and the result of all the money
we are bringing month by month into the country is to encourage attempts to
lower the rate for sterling, pounds and Iraq dinars having been offered last
week in the bazaar here for 120 rials. Among the ignorant general population
the present position does not matter much, as they are firmly convinced of a
welcome and benevolent German rule here before many months. Other intelligent
Persians whom I have discussed matters with are generally pessimistic, and
frankly say that they see no hope for their country except in some kind of friendly
foreign control—possibly British, but definitely not Russian. Even the Governor-
General, who is a former ambassador, and is thought to cherish hopes of
ministerial position one of these days, has privately told me that it would be
a good thing if Persia could have foreign advisers in some departments, as the
Belgian customs officials and Swedish gendarmerie officers in days gone by.
i Nobody seems to think it possible to find a strong and efficient Government among
the present crowd of politicians, and very few people respect us for our desire to
; j leave the administration entirely in such hands. I have even heard of assertions
that the hard times under the old Shah were better than the present confused
and anxious regime under a Government which does not know its own mind
and gets nothing whatever done. It is possible that the extraordinary admiration
for the Germans and wishes for their arrival here have something to do with
appreciation of the German thoroughness and organisation which were
particularly displayed in Tabriz and Tehran, even when they included penetration
, of and interference with the native administration. We at present seem to have,
nothing to offer them except democracy, which educated Persians from past
experience (in Azerbaijan at any rate), fear and dislike, and which they do not
know how to adapt to their own pressing needs.
I have, &c.
F. A. G. COOK.