File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎266r] (536/744)

The body of the Russian Cossack was buried on the 27th at the Armenian church
with full military honours. M. Passek entrusted the organisation of the procession ^ to
lieutenant Lang, R.N., who made admirable arrangements. The whole of the British
detachment formed an escort round the gun carriage, and the whole Persian garrison
was in attendance. The coffin was carried through the narrow street by British
marines and Russian Cossacks, and the firing party over the grave consisted of three
marines, five Russian Cossacks, and four Persian Cossacks, the whole under the British
sergeant. The governor-general accompanied the cortege half-way to the church, a
proceeding by which he has incurred some odium among the more fanatical portion of
the population, and the karguzar was present throughout the ceremony. The
Russian consul-general entertained the native troops of the British detachment on
their return from the ceremony, and the Cossacks entertained the marines on the
following day, the marines returning the compliment at the consulate on the 1 st.
Two attempts to disturb the peace of the town were made during the week. On
the 27 th the pilgrims robbed in the Russian caravan came in a crowd to the Govern
ment House and obstructed the governor-general, who was starting for the funeral of
the Russian Cossack. They surrounded his Excellency, demanding the return of their
goods, and asking why he accepted the post if he was not able to carry out his duties.
Eventually they abused him in most improper terms, and an attempt to raise a riot
seems to have been made, the crowds running through the streets near the Ark with
cries of “Ya Ali,” &c. There was no great response, and the crowd gradually
On the same evening a crowd came to the palace accompanying the body of a man
who had just been shot near the Kazerun Gate. They declared that he was shot
improperly by a policeman. The enquiry was postponed to the following day. _ Next
morning a large armed crowd gradually collected round the body, which was m the
inner courtyard, near the governor-general’s private apartments. They loudly deman ed
the immediate execution of the alleged culprit. The governor-general replied that he
could execute no man without proof, and referred them to the bhara Court Ihey
refused to take the order, and a scene of great confusion ensued during which, after
several shots had been fired, the governor escaped from the palace. Ihe karguzar and
Nasr-ed-Dowleh went on foot to the latter’s quarter to collect men After a short
interval, during which the governor-general’s private apartments were plundered e
mob. Saham-ed-Dowleh re-entered the palace, a few shots were fired into the air by
the Cossacks from a tower commanding the courtyard, and the whole crowffi bolted like
rabbits, even abandoning the corpse. ,. , A
HisMaiesty’s consul, on the sound of firing, went to the Russian consulate and
discussed the situation with M. Passek, with special reference to the safety of Russian
subjects in the town. M. Kadloubovsky had already left to investigate the position
and Mr. Bill followed him, accompanied by Lieutenant Lang. He found everything at
the Government House perfectly normal and the governor-genera jus ms mg 11110 •
He made light of the whole affair, declaring that he could have put an end to the whole
business whenever he pleased, as he had the Cossacks within cal, but that he saw that
the object of the affair was to make him fire on the crowd and give a pretext for a
general riot. This is very probably true, but there can be no doubt a volley fared in
the air, as soon as theNowd assumed a threatening attitude, would have dispersed
them without trouble and without the heavy loss of prestige which governo
general has undoubtedly suffered. For the moment the a air is m a eyan PP ^
Because Nasr-ed-Dowleh has warned the relatives of the deceased not to lenphemsel es
to agitators, and has backed his warning with money and threats But the afta
clearly demonstrated the helplessness of the present a minis ra 10 . „
prolonged discussion on the situation between the governor-genera an i ,
Lwleh in Mr. Bill’s presence, as a result of which a strong telegram to Tehran was
M, IWk, M, Bin
M. Kadloubovsky asked the governor for a private unofficial th ®
that at the present moment the C^the provision for him of adequate force.
retention of powers by Sabam-ed-Dowleh and the p ^ mfite franklv
They, consequently, requested him in a friendly way to explain to them quite y
how matters stood, and they ventured to recommend