Ext 5001/41 'PERSIA – INTERNAL (Miscellaneous despatches).' [‎59r] (117/248)

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41. Princess Ashraf, the Shah’s twin sister and previously the wife of
Ali Qawam, married an Egyptian named Ahmad Shafiq, the son of a pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
42. A good deal of popular indignation was worked up about the execution
of a Persian pilgrim at Mecca on a charge of polluting the holy shrine; the
Persian Government went so far as to threaten to break off relations with Saudi
Arabia unless they were given satisfaction.
i ribcd Situation.
43. The tribal situation has remained comparatively peaceful since the
beginning of the year, the tribes having been allowed in large part to manage
their own affairs. On the other hand, no steps have been taken by the Govern
ment towards a permanent settlement of the tribal problem, an essential condition
of which is the establishment among the tribes of some confidence in the
Government. It is true that, thanks largely to the initiative and co-operation
of British officials, rationed issues of tea, sugar and cloth at controlled prices
were made to certain Lur and Bakhtiari tribes living adjacent to the railway
and to some of the Ivuhgalu tribes adjacent to the oilfields area, but this will be
interpreted as a recognition of the capacity and opportunities for mischief of
those tribes rather than as a reward for virtue or an indication of a change of
heart in the Government. The tribes generally get no share of the Government
stocks of these commodities.
44. In Ears the growing conviction that the Government is powerless
against Nasir Qashgai is inducing tribes such as the Khamseh and the
Mamassanni to make outward signs of co-operation with Nasir. But it is doubtful
whether they really relish the prospect of having to recognise his overlordship,
entailing, as it would, the payment of tribute in money or in kind; and there
are indications that Nasir is none too confident of the support he would receive
if Government should ever pluck up the courage to assert its authority. A
peaceful demonstration by Persian troops towards the Bahmai and Janeki tribes,
north-east of the oilfields, with the object of inducing them to surrender some
arms, though they lie far from his sphere, is reported to have provoked in Nasir
an outburst of nervous anger at such improper conduct of the Persian army and
threats of raising all the tribes from Khuzestan to Persian Baluchistan in the
defence of tribal interests or alternatively of divesting himself of all responsibility
for the order of the tribes of Ears. It is possible that he may instigate some
brigandage in order to squeeze more concessions out of the Government and
to frighten the people of Shiraz into supporting him. This would not necessarily
affect any British war interest; most of the tribes in close contact with the
oilfields and the railway—the Darashuri and Qashquli sections of the Qashgai.
some of the Kuhgalu tribes, the Bakhtiari and the Lurs—although none of them
will miss a chance of thieving, are not, as far as mv present information goes,
likely to be a serious threat to British interests. There is more doubt as to the
possible action of those sections of the Boir Ahmedi who follow Abdullah Khan
Zarghampur, but even they do not as yet give any real cause for anxiety.
45. In Bakhtiari some discontent is becoming evident with the rather
arbitrary government of Morteza Quli Khan, who, in spite of his protestations
to the contrary, appears to be reverting to the customs of the days of Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran.
rule, the return of which would be hardly more welcome to the tribesmen than
the return of the military regime of Reza Shah’s days. Morteza Quli Khan is
reported to be levying on the tribe the old taxes levied by the Ilkhanis and
abolished by Reza Shah. And he is departing from a well-established custom
of the old days when the lucrative posts in tribal administration were evenly
distributed between the two rival branches of the ruling family. Now only his
own relatives get these opportunities, and the disgruntled Khans of the other
branch heartily encourage all the discontent they can find.
Persian Forces.
46. (a) Army. Indecision,conflictingviews, internal intrigues and personal
interests continue to obstruct attempts to reform the army. Persian supporters of
the American advisers universally expressed disappointment at their apparentlv
disinterested attitude towards the execution of the plans which they have them
selves prepared. It is not true that the advisers are disinterested, but it would
not be far from the truth to sav that they are too inclined to adopt the attitude
that it is for them to give advice and for the Persian authorities to act on it
Having regard to the strength of the opposition that is determined to discredit
them, it may safely be said that they cannot hope to achieve success unless they