'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎122r] (243/1486)

... The Portfolio of Foreign Affairs is in
the hands of the Gawam-ud-dowfeh, Mirza Abbas
Khan, a man of rough manners and appearance,
who is a typical representative of the old school ;
tire real control of the foreign relations of Persia
being entirely in the hands of the Shah and Amin-
es-Sultan. The late Minister for Foreign Affairs,
and present Minister of Justice and Commereo,
Yahia Khan, whoso title is the Mushir-ud-dowleh,
is probably one of the cleverest of the Ministers,
speaking French excellently, and hein"thoroughly
versed in the habits of the West. For reasons
into which it is unnecessary to enter, he forfeited
the countenance of the British Government and
lost his former post. Brother to the famous Sadr
Azem and Sipah Salar, the late Mirza Hussein
Khan, who was for so long Prime Minister of
Persia, brother-in-law to the Shah, and father-
in-law to the daughter of the heir-apparent, the
owner of a magnificent residence, Yahia Khan is
a factor to be reckoned with in the future
Rumour credits him with strong Russian proclivi
ties, which he denies. Of the Minister for War,
the Naib-es-Sultaneh, 1 have already spoken.
Jehangir Khan is Minister of the Fine Arts. The
sole remaining Minister of distinction is the
Mokhver-ud-dowloh, Ali Kuli Khan, who com
bines the Ministries of Public Instruction, Tele
graphs, and Mines. He also is a man of con
siderable ability and enlightenment, though
deficient in ambition. Ho accompanied the Shah
as far as London on his recent tour, but owing
to jealousies among the suite obtained permission
to retire from there and undertake a pilgrimage
to Mecca. Ho has been brought into frequent
and friendly contact with the British and Indian
Governments, and has b
Queen.
Among other prominent
actually Ministers, must be mentioned the Amir
Nizam, Hassan Ali Khan, who is Vizier to the
Vali-ahd in Azerbaijan, and has for years been
the real govemor of that province. Formerij
Persian Minister in Paris, ho speaks French well,
and is imbued with Western and progressive
ideas. Before being raised to his present high
office he was Minister of Public Works in Tehe
ran. Though somewhat advanced in years he is
frequently spoken of as a likely Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and in a new reign would doubt
less be appointed Grand Vizier to the Sovereign.
Another powerful individual is the Sahib Divan,
Fathullah Khan, a wealthy nobleman of Shiraz,
who was once for a time Governor of Ispahan and
Fars, and formerly held office in the capital. Ho
is a man of enlightened views and intelligence,
and in spite of his years is said to covet the post
of First Minister, which he sees with reluctance
in its present occupant’s hands.
In addition to the Council of State there exists