'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎37v] (79/610)

62
Events leading
up to Anglo-
Persian Agree
ment, 1919.
to send a Mission, composed of Mushavir-ul-Mamalik and tlire®
other delegates, to Europe, to attend on the Conference. In the
autumn of 1919, Mushavir-ul-Mamalik was replaced by Nusrat-
ud-Dauleh as head of this Mission and as Minister for Foreign
Affairs. The main contentions of Persia were that reparation is
due for losses sustained by the State, and by individuals, through
violation of Persian territory by Russia, and other neighbouring
States, in the course of the war; and that rectification of her
Russian and Turkish frontiers—in Transcaspia, Caucasus
and Kurdistan-should be granted.
Persia has not obtained any satisfaction from the Peace
Conference in these matters, but she has been admitted to-
membership of the League of Nations.
In the sphere of domestic politics the Ministry had to prepare
for election of delegates to the new Majlis which it had promised'
to call.
An intrigue to secure the appointment of a Royal Prince as
Governor General of Khorasan in place of Quvvam-us-Sultaneh
brought the Ministry into collision with the Shah and the Court
party, in the end of 1918. Under the old regime, the Shah
was the real and responsible head of the Government, and the
ultimate decision regarding appointment of governors and other
high functionaries rightly lay with him ; but, under the Consti
tution, the Cabinet became directly responsible for affairs, and
had need to select its own servants. The Shah was most unwill
ing to abandon so important—and lucrative—a patronage, but
ultimately conceded the principle involved.
The war had produced a marked change in Persia’s foreign
relations. The Russian menace was at an end, or was relegated
to an uncertain future. Turkey and Germany were crippled,
and Great Britain was the only Power in a position to give the
immediate material help—military, financial, economic—so
urgently needed to restore the authority of the Government,
the stability of the finances, and the commercial and industrial
life of the country.
The country was in a chastened mood, a little nervous,
perhaps, of British resentment of its conduct during the war,
but on the whole confident and hopeful of efficient help in reform
of abuses and in development of the national resources. And
the leaders of the previous Cabinets were still somewhat dis
credited with the people and were known to have forfeited the
confidence of the British Government.
Thus the Cabinet of Yusuq-ud-Dauleh was in a favourable
situation to undertake the measures to reform needed by the