"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٧] (٦١٦/٢٥٨)

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR mi-im.
Fazl Ullah. Mujtahid Kamal-ud-Din of Kermanshali called a meeting of the
people and read to them the two above telegrams and also a telegram from the
chief Mujtahids of Kerbela winch stated that the Majlis was fully in accordance
with the Shara and that any one in opposition to it was an unbeliever.
This decree had the value of a Papal Encyclical. The Imam-i-juma rose
and made a speecli pointing out that it was at Kerbela alone that a decision
on such a subject could be given and that whatever the spiritual heads of the
religion at that place should order must be obeyed. A telegram was accordingly
sent to the Majlis offering them the full support of the town and to Sheikh
Pazl Ullah disassociating themselves from his movement.
The Legation now telegraphed to me that the Shah had given his promise to
the English and Russian representatives that he would faithfully observe the
Constitution. I was to be permitted to use this news to calm the people if
I considered it necessary. As the people's party seemed predominant and there
appeared no fear of a collision I did not use the information.
On the 2nd January Asrha Mahomed Mehdi, the religious chief of the
people's party, who had taken refuge in the Consulate in the summer and who
had fled to Kerbela in the autumn, returned to Kermanshah fully accredited
by the Mujfcahids of Kerbela. He had a great reception and a do^en C{ yedaq
horses (riderless and highly decorated and saddled horses usually sent out as
a sign of honour) were sent out to meet him, amongst them being one from the
Governor and one from the Karguzar. The people went out in thousands
and kissed Mehdi's hands and feet and even the feet of his horse. Mehdi now
pretends to great absorption from the world and abstention from temporal
affairs. He is, however, the religious chief of the local assembly.
On the 11th January Zahir-el-Mulk, who had been appointed Commander-
in-Chief of the forces on the frontier, left for Kasr-i-Shirin and Azam-ed-Douleh,
his son, took over the post of Deputy-Governor,
He immediately began to act with great harshness and continued his
father's policy of force : unfortunately he appeared to be indifferent whether he
punished the innocent or the guilty and subsequently suffered for his mis-
government and has been deprived of all his titles and honours. During the
time he was Deputy-Governor, i .e., to the end of the year, he made a good deal
of monev, especially out of the charwardars. An order came from Tehran for
bidding Persian charwardars crossing the frontier. Azam-ed-Douleh worked
this order for his own benefit by forbidding the transport of any merchandise
to the frontier at all unless he were irst bribed.
No further open conflict took place as the people's party were too- strong
and, in addition, frontier matters took up the time of the official classes.
At the same time, strong as is the people's party, it seems impossible that
the large numbers who will lose their means of existence under a constitutional
Government, including all the official classes and their hangers on, will consent
to their losses without a fight. The actual strength would appear to be ou
their side fo^ none of the tribes have any sympathy with constitutional means.
Thus when vested interests are seriously attacked, should the movement at
Tehran show any signs of strength, they will find a very strong and numerous
backing in the Kermansharh district;. No movement is however likely to
, originate in Kermanshah though it would be a bold man who would prophesy
about anything in this country.
dispute ^ the beginning of October I received information that the Turkish
rd m ' troops were being increased all along the frontier.
^is- At Kermanshah it is most difficult to get reliable information and I was-
several times misled after having confirmed most carefully the news that I
had received. I accordingly asked for permission to proceed to Kasr-i-Shirin,
where I spent two months of the winter from the middle of January to the
middle of March. Baneh was the only place in my district oecupfed by the
il! Turks.