'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎20r] (44/610)

* See page 179.
27
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small groups and mutual animosities and dissensions between
different parties and leaders.
The ultra-democratic party quarrelled with the clergy and
Saiyid Abdullah, a Muj tabid who had played a leading
part during the early days of the movement in Tehran in
1906-1907 as a constitutionalist, was assassinated in July. A
counter assassination Of the nephew- of the ultra-democrat
Taqlzadeh followed, and Taqlzadeh himself, who had been
excommunicated by a *‘ fatvah ’ from Najaf, left Tehran. The
Government took vigorous action and ordered the immediate
surrender of arms by all except regular authorized forces. Some
300 Mujahidin assembled in the garden of Sattar Khan, the
defender of Tabriz, and refused compliance, but the Govern
ment was supported by Yeprim and Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Asad Bakhtiari,
the garden was rushed by Bakhtiaris, and the ‘ Fida’is, 5 as they
are called, were forcibly disarmed.
In February 1910 Great Britain and Russia offered a joint
loan to Persia, but their conditions that its expenditure must
he approved by the Legations, that Persia should engage French
financial advisers, that provision must be made for security of
the trade routes!, that Great Britain and Russia should have
the refusal of any railway concession except in the case of a
Persian undertaking, that the Julfa-Tabrlz route Company
should receive a concession for navigation on the Urumieh lake,
aroused suspicion and apprehension, and caused the rejection
of the offer as incompatible with Persian independence.
This year marks the increase of tension with Russia; the
revolutionary Committee was hoping that the deposition of
the Shah would end Russian influence in Persia, and Russia
was not disposed to he conciliatory owing to resentment at the
actions of the Committee.
It is also noteworthy as the year when proposals were made
for the engagement of foreign advisers to organize the adminis
trative departments. Great Britain and Russia were appre
hensive lest Germans might be invited, and suggested to the
Persian Government that nationals of small powers should be
engaged, failing which they would demand employment of their
own nationals. Some excitement and anti-British feeling was
aroused during the year owing to a peremptory British note to
the Persian Govejnment that unless order were restored within
■3 months on the Bushire-Isfahan road, where insecurity was
paralysing British trade, Great Britain would be obliged to make
her own arrangements for its policing and recovery of the
expense from the revenues of Fars.