'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎219] (254/714)

POLITICS AND COMMERCE OF KHORASAN
219
as Fraser, 1 MacGregor, 2 and Napier, reported a widespread aversion
in northern Khorasan to the Kajar dynasty, and a profound dis-
Persian affection towards the central Government of Teheran,
loyalty r p] 1 0 process of time and the firm rule of the present
Shah have obliterated these antipathies, and Khorasan is as
negatively loyal as any other part of Persia. By negative loyalty
I mean that the rule of the sovereign is passively acquiesced in by
the bulk of the people, who of themselves would institute no move
ment for change; but that this feeling nowhere amounts to a spirit
of enthusiasm, nor has kindled the faintest spark of national unitv.
Whilst, therefore, the people would be extremely unlikely to fight
against the Shah, they would be almost as unlikely to fight for
him—a position which renders their allegiance a quantity of very
precarious value. Against the Afghans, no doubt, who are Sunnis
and hereditary enemies, such a feeling, approximating to national
unity, might be aroused. But I am not now talking of possible
warfare with an Asiatic enemy, but of the designs and encroach
ments of Russia. If Russia, therefore, were to-morrow to under
take a hostile movement against Khorasan, what might the in
habitants of that province be expected to do ?
My answer is that, if the movement were accompanied by the
smallest display of military force, they would probably do nothing
Russian still and accept the change of masters, in the belief
prestige that it was Kismet, and that they might fare, if not the
same, at least a little better, and could not fare much worse. The
utter rottenness of Persian administration, by which the poor
people have been long oppressed without hope of redress, has
taught them to turn with eagerness to any alternative that at least
promises a change. I am unable to say whether the Russians are
personally popular in Persia, not having had the means of ascer
taining by personal inquiry on a sufficiently large scale, and having
received the most contradictory answers from my several informants.
1 Journey into Khorasan, cap. xxii. ' During the course of our journey from
Meshed, there was nothing that struck me more forcibly than the violent hatred
borne by all ranks of people to the reigning family of Persia. They were never
spoken of without detestation, and their name appears to be identified with all
that is cruel, tyrannical, and unjust.' This was in 1822.
2 Journey through Khorasan, vol. i. p. 253. ' In Khorasan there is another
opinion, which is as prevalent as belief in the Russians, and that is contempt of
the Kajar. This I have heard expressed over and over again, coupled with epithets
the reverse of complimentary.' This was in 1875.