'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎194r] (392/610)

the hostility of the Russians and left for Germany. He returned
to Persia in 1912 and being anti-Russian and pro-English he
was viewed with favour by the British Legation and in 1913 was
appointed Governor of Ears, where after the outbreak of war
he came forward as a pronounced Germanophil and aided
Wasmuss and others until in 1915 he was summoned to Tehran,
and became Minister of Justice in Mustaufl-ul-Mamalik’s
Cabinet, an organizer of the Turko-German intrigues and of the
exodus of the ‘ Muhajlrxn ’ to Qum. After the Russian revolu
tion he became the leader of the Democrats and the most power
ful man in Tehran. Witia the post of Minister of the Interior
he was the most active ‘ enemy partisan ’ in Mustaufi-ul-
Mamalik’s anti-British Cabinet in the beginning of 1918, egged
on the Jangalis to oppose Dunsterforce and directed from
Tehran the intrigues which were largely responsible for the
disaffection of the South Persia Rifles in Ears.
At this time he obtained the support of all the Tehran press
except the ‘ Ra’ad,’ whose editor Saiyid Zia wrote ^ series of
powerful articles disclosing the intentions of the Government
until Mustaufi suppressed the publication of all newspapers
except one official organ.
After the fall of Mustaufi’s Cabinet in April 1918, which
was largely caused by Saiyid Zia’s articles, he held no office
until appointed Minister of Finance by Mushir-ud-Dauleh
in July 1920 and afterwards sent as Governor General to Azarbai-
jan. The previous Governor ’Ain-ud-Dauleh (No. 6) had been
expelled by the Democrats who were threatening to cut off the
province from the Tehran Government, but soon after his arrival
at Tabriz, with the assistance of the Cossacks, he succeeded
in re-establishing Government authority and Shaikh Muhammad
Khlabani, the Democrat leader, was killed in an encounter
with the Cossacks. He is learned and well read, fond of blowing
his own trumpet, but is one of the few capable governors pro
duced by Persia during recent years. He has a reputation for
patriotism and honesty and unlike most governors has not
become a rich man. He is suspicious of British motives but
now seems inclined to be friendly.
No. 3. MUSTAUFI-UL-MAMALIK. Hasan Khan.
Born about 1860. His father was for a short while Sadr A’zam
to Nasir-ud-DIn Shah and left him large estates, most of which
he has sold.
From 1900 to 1907 he was in Europe and on his return to
Persia he joined the Constitutionalist movement. He held