"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [و‎‎٤‎١] (١٥٦/٨٦)

endeavouring to apprehend the persons concerned in the attempt on the Shah’s
life in February.
The number of refugees in Gulhah continued to increase to such an extent
(at one time there were more than 300 in the village) that, on the 4th August,
Mr. Marling obtained permission from the Secretary of State to apply to the
Persian Government for a force of police in order to expel them, and it was
made clear to the people that bast in His Majesty’s Legation could only he
allowed when there was imminent danger to life.
In August the Russian and British Governments, in view of the grave Augn«t.
situation that had been created in Persia, arranged the terms of a joint com
munication, which was presented to the Shah, through the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, on the 8 th September, advising him—not with any wish to interfere in
the internal affairs of Persia, but in the interests of general prosperity and trade,
and of the definite pacification of the country—to make the announcement that
his decision in regard to the maintenance of the organic laws granted by him to
the Empire was irrevocable, and that on the i4th November Parliament should
re-assemble at Tehran.
On the 18th September, the Shah replied to the joint Anglo-Russian com- September,
munication, the substance of the reply being that necessary steps were being
taken in compliance with promises made to form an Assembly in accordance
with the country’s wants and in conformity with its religion, in order that
disturbances should not recur; and that the Shah w T as in hopes of issuing a
proclamation for the convocation of Parliament on the date above-mentioned,
but, until order had been restored in Tabriz, where the Persian Government
would require time to make the necessary arrangements, the Assembly would
not open.
This reply was not considered satisfactory as no assurance was given for the
maintenance of the organic laws.
On the 2nd October, a rescript was published by the Shah, the meaning of 0 ctob er.
which was not clear, but it seemed to show that there was an intention of
remodelling the old Constitution. Parliament was to be convoked on the 14th
November, and an electoral law was to be published on the 27th October.
On the 2Sth October, it was reported that the Shah had not carried out his
promise to issue the electoral law on the previous day.
In the meantime the Shah had been excommunicated by order of the
Hujjat-ul-Islam, and a telegram from him to the Mujtahids of Najaf threat
ening them with punishment if they interfered in the affairs of the State
elicited a reply, which was widely published, couched in terms of defiance and
opprobrium.
On the 7th November an artificial demonstration was organized by Amir November.
Bahadur Jaug, Mushir-us-Sultaneh, and other reactionaries, praying the Shah
not to reintroduce the Majlis on the ground that it was contrary to Islamic
law.
On the 8 th the British and Russian Ministers sent an identical Memoran
dum urging the Shah to fulfil his numerous promises to re-establish the Con
stitution; but on the 19th renewed demonstrations were made at Bagh-i-Sliah
against the constitutional regime, and the Shah issued a Rescript stating that
he had given up all idea of forming a Majlis iu the future.
The British and Russian Legations immediately addressed a joint note to
the Foreign Minister on the subject which resulted in the Rescript being with
drawn on the 23rd, and,on the 25th the Foreign Minister explained that it only
referred to the last Majlis.
On the 29th November a Council of State, composed of some 40 persons
chosen by the Shah, to take the place of the Majlis, was inaugurated ; and on
the 8 th December the official Gazette “ Iran” published an article on this new December,
Council, the members of which would, it stated, be “ elected.”