'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎9r] (22/610)

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to weaken Persia by embroiling her with her neighbours,
especially by abetting Persian schemes against Herat, 1 which
ultimately brought about the Anglo-Persian 1 war of 1856-57.
The year 1879-80 marks the initiation of a forward policy 1879-1907.
inside the frontiers of Persia with the formation of the Persian
Cossack force in Tehran under Russian officers, while after
1890 Russia commenced the development of communications
and trade in North Western Persia by the .construction of the
metalled roads vid Kazvin to Tehran and Hamadan, and of the
port of Enzall, and started penetration into Persian Azarbaijan.
Following on the development of trade Russian consuls and
agents were established in all towns of any size. This
encroachment was facilitated by the accession of the weak and
incompetent Muzaffar-ud-Din Shah in 1896 and the consequent
spread of administrative paralysis. The Shah’s extravagance
was facilitated by the readiness with which Russia advanced
loans for him to squander on journeys to Europe and so
acquired financial control over the Persian Government, which
no longer possessed sufficient revenue io meet its cunent
expenditure.
The Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 defined Northern ^nglo-Busiian^
Persia as the Russian zone of influence and while Russia bene- 1907
fited by the withdrawal of British competition from these
regions she acted in contravention of the spirit of this conven
tion by interfering to an increasing extent in the internal
concerns of the country. The effect of this convention on the
Briti h position in Persia is described in para. 2, pages 11 -13.
During the Persian revolution of 1909 on the pretext of Kiissiangarrt.
protecting Russian subjects and property she introduced Russian Persia,
garrisons into 2 Tabriz, at first of 2,000 men, but this number
was afterwards increased, and via 2 Enzali and 2 Rasht to
Kazvin of one battalion infantry, 500 Cossacks, 4 guns and some
sappers. These garrisons were reduced after November 1909,
but not withdrawn, and in 1911 were reinforced to support the
Russian ^ultimatum to Persia to dismiss Mr. Shuster, the
American engaged by the Persian Government as treasurer timatnm of
General to organize the finances, whose independent attitude MU-
in the Russian zone had evoked Russian hostility, to engage no
foreigner in Persia without the consent of Russia and Great
1 See paragraph 2, page 9 below.
» In Enzall, Rasht and Tabriz melees ensued after the arrival oi the
Russians, in which several Persians were killed and wounded.
For an account of these events see pages 28-31.