'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎49r] (102/310)

If
Memorandum of information received during
the month oj November 1905, regarding
external affairs relating to Persia.
£Note.—T his memorandum is based upon reports, the accuracy of
which it is not always possible to guarantee.]
PERSIA.
1. Tehran.—{Vide paragraph 2 of
Memorandum for August 1905.) On the 18th
November 1905, His Majesty’s Charge
d’Affaires telegraphed that the Mushir-ed-
Eowleh had informed him that a company,
with a capital of about £45,000, was about
to be formed, consisting of one foreigner
and nine Persians, to run Renard motor
trains between Tehran and Meshed, and
between Tehran and Kermanshah via Kum.
The foreigner was suspected to be the Russian
financial Agent, though in reply to a
question the Mushir-ed-Dowleh said that
the foreigner shareholder bad not yet been
nominated.
2. (Vide paragraph 1 of Memorandum
for August 1905.) The Grand Vizier lately tried
to borrow £40,000 from the Imperial Rank of
Persia for bis private use. The Director refused
to lend His Highness the money until the
Persian Government repaid the large outstand
ing debt which is owing to the Bank. The
of the Bank considers the tmancial
situation at Tehran worse than evei.
3. On the 29th November 1905, Mr.
Grant* Duff telegraphed that the Mushir-ed-
Dowleh bad informed the Oriental Secretary
confidentially that he considered that the fall
of the Grand Vizier was imminent, and that it
was possible that the late Grand Vizier would
return. The general situation was extremely
bad in the opinion of His Excellency.
4. The branch of the Russian Bank
which was being built at Tehran was destroyed
on the 26th November by a mob of
Sevvids and students at the instigation of
a Mulla, because the site was that of. a
Muhammadan cemetery. The Russian
Engineer narrowly escaped with ms life.
This is stated to be the prelude to a serious
disturbance organised against the Grand
Vizier by the Clergy.
6. TJrumia.—{Vide paragraph .8 of
Memorandum for October 1905.) His Majesty s
Consul-General at Tabriz has enquired what
punishment His Majesty’s Government wish
to demand for Captain Gough s assailants,
if caught and found guilty. He states that
Captain Gough had over twenty shots tired at