Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎32v] (64/644)

Kermanshah and Hamadan, at a place near Sahneh, named the Tang-i-Lulak.
Among the prisoners were the American consul and vice-consul; they were
eventually recaptured, more or less by accident, and reached Tehran unhurt,
except for very sore feet. The dissident band were said to be organised by a
certain ex-officer in the Persian army named Colonel Gigu. In December a large
number of troops were sent to round up the rebels, and operations were placed
in charge of Sepahbud Ahmed Agha Khan. |
Khuzistan.
351. An Arab outlaw of the Beni Turuf, named Yerow, was at large in
May and was causing trouble on the road between Mianab and Dizful. The
lawlessness in the outlying districts of Khuzistan increased during June and
July.
Bushire and the Gulf Ports.
352. Disarmament among the Dashtis and Tangistanis continued as far as
circumstances permitted. Sheikh Muhammad-bin-Ahmad Khalfan was reported
to have been defeated by the Persian troops in the Shibkuh area in June and
his fort at Teben occupied. He himself, however, appears to have escaped, and
was still a source of trouble at the end of the year.
353. To sum up : the new Persian army has been engaged pretty strenuously
throughout the year in suppressing robbery and banditry. The policy of the
Central Government has been to concentrate, as far as possible, all the principal
tribal leaders in Tehran. The Persian Government, in this respect, has
undoubtedly acted with wisdom, and it is difficult to say how they would otherwise
have been able to deal with their unruly subjects, impoverished as they are by
high taxation, soaring prices and increased cost of living. A blow was struck
at the Qashgai tribe when the well-known Qashgai chief, Ismail Khan Qashgai
(Soulet-ed-Dowleh), and his son Nasir Khan were summarily put into prison at
Tehran without trial at the beginning of September. The fact that, as members
of the Majlis, they were immune from civil process was soon got over by the
passing of a special act authorising the arrest.
(D) The Qajar Family.
354. The executor named in the will of the late Shah, Sultan Ahmad Qajar,
was the Guarantee Trust Company of New York. The London representatives of
the company applied in January to the Foreign Office for permission to include
in the Legation bag a sealed tin box, said to contain documents of the late Shah,
held by the Imperial Bank of Persia, Tehran. The Persian Government’s consent
had been obtained. The Secretary of State replied that he was unable to accede
to the request, and nothing more has been heard of the matter.
355. Prince Abu’l Path Mirza, Salar-ed-Dowleh, continued to reside in
Palestine. His pension, at the rate of 18,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum, is still being paid
by the Persian Government in six-monthly instalments, usually in arrear. The
Persian Government correspond officially with the Legation on the subject, and
no doubt regard His Majesty’s Government as responsible for keeping the mad
prince out of Persia.
(E) The Sheikh of Mohammerah.
356. The sheikh remains in Tehran, a virtual prisoner. Periodic attacks
of a recurrent form of diabetes (glycosuria) increase the bitterness which the
failure of the Persian Government to display any serious interest in the settle
ment of his affairs must cause. He has quarrelled with his principal wife and
with the son in whom he trusted. The Persian Government on their part are
suspicious of his every action. An Armenian doctor named Caro Minassian, who
used to look after his numerous ailments, went to London at the end of 1931 to
take a course of study at one of the London hospitals. The Persian Government,
suspecting in some hazy way that Minassian might cause trouble between His
Majesty’s Government and themselves, had the doctor carefully watched by
detectives in London.