Miscellaneous papers on the Near and Middle East [‎31r] (61/70)

[This Docnment is the Property of His Britannic Majestys Government]
PERSIA.
[March 26.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1 .
[ 48160 ] No. 1.
Earl Curzon to Sir 1 J . Cox.
(No. 38.)
Sir, Foreign Office, March 26, 1919.
THE Persian Minister called upon me this afternoon to report the results of hi&
visit to Paris.
* As regards the remark that I had made at our previous interview, to the effect
that the Persian Government at the same time that they were seeking advice from us
were making overtures to other Governments, the Minister assured me that no such
negotiations had taken place with the French Government, and that, if any suggestions
as to the appointment of a French Financial Adviser had been made, they must have
emanated from Tehran. He went on to give me similar assurances as regards Persian
overtures to the American Government, which he declared had not gone beyond the
exchange of civilities at a dinner table.
I said that I was sorry to have to tell him that I had the best reasons for believing
that the reverse was the case, and that a direct attempt to interest the United States in
the financial and administrative future of Persia had been made.
The Minister was somewhat staggered at this information, and could attribute it
only, as he said, to the machinations of qne of his countrymen named Ali Kuli Khan.
This individual, after an adventurous career, in the course of which he had been a
Babi preacher, a dealer in America, Charge d’Affaires in the Persian Legation in
Washington, and the husband of an American wife, had turned up in Paris and
attached himself in some capacity or other to the Persian delegation there.
The Persian Minister relieved me from the duty of informing him that this
individual was an adventurer of the worst description by himself describing him as a
charlatan : a confession on his part which rendered it easy for me to point out that the
sooner the connection of this gentleman with the Persian delegates in Paris was
suspended the better for every party concerned.
The Minister then went on to say that Mushaver-ul-Mamalek, to whom he had
explained my views, would be quite ready to come here and ascertain whatever I had
to tell him with regard to British policy or intentions in Persia, after which he would
go back to Paris and discuss the matter with Mr. Balfour, or place my opinions,
together with his own policy founded upon them, before the Peace Conference.
f had to inform the Minister that he was under a grave misapprehension if he
thought that I could accept either alternative. Mr. Balfour had, I said, remitted the
matter to the Foreign Office here, and he would, I felt sure, object to a two-fold
discussion going on at the same time in London and in Paris. As regards the Peace
Conference, 1 was not in the least prepared to make proposals of any description -which
should be discussed by that body.
The Minister then asked me what advice I was prepared to offer as regards the
admission of the Persian representatives to the Conference.
1 declined to give any at all. I pointed out that the Persians had sent a delegation
to Paris, unasked by anyone, on their own responsibility; that their admission rested
with the leading members of the Conference and not with me; and that, if they were
heard there, I had not the slightest ground of complaint, although I personally could
not give any encouragement to the suggestion. On the other hand, in the press of
work with which the Conference was overwhelmed, it seemed to me extremely unlikely
that any time would be found for Persia, who had not been a belligerent and whose
case for being heard was the reverse of strong.
Hie Minister again pressed me to see Mushaver-ul-Mamalek before the hearing at
the Peace Conierence took place, and said that the amour-propre of Persia would be
deeply wounded if she were not admitted.
I replied that 1 should be very sorry that anything should take place which would
injure the pride or lower the self-esteem of his country or Government, but the
responsibility was that of others, and not mine. My position, I repeated, was perfectly
clear, and I had taken steps to make it known to his Government in Tehran. I was
quite prepared to see Mushaver-ul-Mamalek and to have the frankest and most friendly
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