'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎34v] (73/610)

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duction of Sipahdar-i-A’zam, as Minister of War, and of Akbar
MIrza, Sarim-ud-Dauleh (a son of the Zil-us-Sultan) as Minister
of Finance.
The most pressing question was that of finance, but necessary
funds were readily advanced by Great Britain on receiving
assurances that the new Government would adopt a friendly
policy.
Friendly relations were soon tested by the kidnapping of
Obeidullah Effendi, who had been for a time an active Turkish
emissary in East Persia, but had latterly resided at Tehran
He was whisked off to Kazvin, and far on the way to
Baghdad before he was missed in Tehran. The affront to
neutral Persia was smoothed by his acceptance of facilities to
c ontinue his journey to Constantinople.
The stability of the Cabinet was more seriously tried in
September, when it was reported that the Turks had commenced
an advance from Tabriz through Sa kiz and Mlaneh, 1 and that
they had taken Baku. It was known that the British line from
Hamadan to Rasht was only lightly held, and much anxiety was
felt in Tehran lest they should have to concentrate in Hamadan
and leave the road to the capital open to the Turks. But as
previously in the summer of 1916 after General Baratoff’s
retreat from Khaniqxn to Aveh, the Turks did not advance,
and a little later it was known that their power had been definitely
shattered in Palestine.
The further victorious progress of the Allies, ending in
the armistice, assured the position of the Persian Cabinet.
Indeed there was no other policy possible than that of friendly
dependence on Great Britain, the only Pow-er to whom the
Government could turn, at that time, for the help necessary to
restore order in the distracted country.
Before describing the various measures taken by the Cabinet
to restore order in the provinces, it may be noted that a very
severe epidemic of influenza swept over the country in October
and November. It is said to have decimated the population;
in many villages there were not survivors enough to work the
usual area of cultivation.
The Government were put more at ease in regard to finance
by an arrangement made in October, whereby Persia was assured
of a monthly advance of tumans 350,000 from Great Britain, for
as long as the two governments should mutually consider this
assistance necessary.
See Sketch of history of Khamseh in para. 5 below.