"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎٧‎٠] (٥٦٦/١٤٤)

EFFECT OF RUSSIAN ACTION
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other alternative was to submit to Persian demands for large
sums of money and arms in the hope that this might induce
them to abstain from encouraging the pro-German feeling. It
might, however, he said, just as well have the contrary effect,
as it would show Persia that we were wholly dependent on her
good-will.
On that day the Persian Government had again intimated
to Mr. Marling that they would not agree to the British terms
for the restoration of Bushire ; and the serious nature of the
situation was further confirmed by news that the British vice-
consul at Shiraz (Ali Quli Khan Nawab) had been attacked
and mortally wounded on the 7th and that the German consular
agent at Hamadan, with one hundred and fifty men in his pay,
was threatening to drive British and Russians out of the town.
On the 8 th September, however, Mr. Marling telegraphed a
more reassuring report. He had just visited the Persian Prime
Minister at the latter's request and had come to an agreement
with him respecting Bushire, which was in effect an acceptance
of the British terms and which was largely due, in Mr. Marling’s
opinion, to the landing of Russian troops at Enzeli. The
Governor-General was to be recalled immediately from Shiraz
and Qawam, appointed as acting Governor-General, was to select
a suitable person to act as Governor of Bushire and take over
the administration there from the British military authorities.
The British troops were to remain at Bushire as long as required
in order to ensure the safety of the British consulate and
community, and the Persian Government undertook to punish
the guilty Khans and to endeavour to put an end to German
intrigues.
On the 9th September Sir Edward Grey telegraphed to Mr.
Marling that H.M. Government approved these terms and did
not therefore consider it desirable to present the suggested
ultimatum to the Persian Government. Mr. Marling was,
however, authorised to inform the Persian Prime Minister in
the most earnest manner of the surprise and concern of H.M.
Government at recent events in Persia, and that they found it
difficult to believe that the Persian Government had ever con
templated the serious consequences to their country of alien
ating the very friendly feelings of Great Britain. H.M.
Government felt justified, therefore, in asking if the Persian
Government were prepared forthwith to assert themselves to
protect British consular officers and subjects in Persia, and if
so, what steps they proposed to adopt for the purpose. In the