File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎290r] (584/744)

[This Document is the Pronerty of H is Britannic Majesty’s Gove rnment]
PERSIA.
iNFIDENTIAL.
[43584]
[November 29.]
Section 1,
Sir A. Nicolson to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received November 29.)
(No. 625.)
g- r St. Petersburgh, November 26, 1909.
I HAVE the honour to report that the attack by Persian brigands on M. Passek,
Russian consul-general at Bushire, on his journey from Shiraz forms the subject of a
leading article in the <£ Novoe Vremya ” of to-day.
The jouroal observes that this incident confirms, in an unpleasantly realistic
manner, the comments made in its columns a day or two ago as to the extremely curious
statement made in the Shah’s Speech from the Throne to the effect that the Persian
population were filled with grief and alarm at the presence of foreign troops on Persian
territory. As a matter of fact order is guaranteed and safety of life ensured only in
those places where there are a sufficient number of Russian soldiers. The troops of the
Governor-General of Azerbaijan who were dispatched against Rahim Khan are returning
to Tabreez after having remained a whole month at Serab doing nothing. The notorious
Sattar Khan has fled from Ardebil, leaving the inhabitants to their fate. Persian and
Russian merchants put all their hopes in the Russian troops at Ardebil and Tabreez for
keeping the trade routes open. Such, then, is the sorrow of the Persian people over the
“ foreign invasion.” Six trading caravans, belonging to those very Persians who (in
the words of the Speech from the Throne) are so grievously dismayed by the presence of
Russian troops in Persian territory, had attached themselves to the weakly guarded
Russian transport column. After giving the details of the attack as reported by the
telegraphic agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , the “ Novoe Vremya” continues : “ Such is the order existing m
p ers i a —i n one of the quietest districts of Persia. Bands of robbers numbering hundreds
of persons muster there and give regular battle to travellers without let or hindiance.
Where, then, are the Persian authorities ? The ‘ serious representations made by the
Russian Minister at Tehran will evoke an equally serious reply from the Persian,
Government, which has just shown in the Speech from the Throne how thoroughly it
understands the gravity of tbie situation. But the most serious of diplomatic documents
will not frighten brigands ; swords and bullets must be employed in dealing with them,
not pourparlers. And this is the very respect m which the Persian Government is
incompetent. The force they sent to Ardebil achieved nothing in the course of a mont
except to frighten the peaceful inhabitants. Sattar Khan, the most famous o eisian
military leaders, has proved his ability by a hurried flight from the place of danger.
What, then, is the use of the 4 most serious’ representations made by M. Poklewski.
Are they not rather likely to prove a laughing-stock ? The Persian Government knows
how to compose a Speech from the Throne, but is absolutely mcapab e o pieseivmg
general order or even of safeguarding foreign diplomatic representatives in these
circumstances, if the Russian Minister feels that he is indeed the represen a rve o a
Great Power and not merelv a diplomatic clerk, he should take other s eps on us own
responsibility. Shiraz is situated within the sphere of English influence,'knd there is
an English gun-boat always stationed at Bushire. i he Persian Governmen wi
best will m the world is powerless to satisfy the demand foi tue pums mei N ° ®
offenders. There remains but one natural resource to ask foi tie co opeia ion an
assistance of English diplomacy, which has already once taken measures by armed
action to restore order and safety in South-West Persia. T ns wou compe
Persian Government to awake from its slumbers far more effective y ,
representations at Tehran. The telegrams of yesterday evening report ia &
consul left for the scene of the affair with an escort of British Indian soidmrs imr -
diately on learning the news. This shows that the Englishman did not waste Rme m
fruitless diplomatic correspondence but proceeded to action at once. is
constitutes the enviable difference between English and Russian c ip oma s.
I have, &e.
A. NICOLSON.
slk
[2491/-l]
i / *j w i