'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎203v] (411/610)

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Majlis in 1909, and in October 1909 he became Minister of
Justice, his first ministerial post, was Minister of Finance in
1909, of Interior 1911, of Foreign Affairs 1911 and 1913, and
went to Europe “ on leave ” in June 1913, Minister of Foreign
Affairs 1914, of Finance 1915-16, and became Prime Minister
from August 1916 to May 1917. He enjoyed the support of the
British Legation, and in August 1918 was appointed Prime Minis
ter after the summary dismissal of the anti-British Cabinet of
Samsam-us-Sultaneh.
Sir Percy Cox signed the Anglo-Persian Agreement with his
Cabinet in August 1919 and he enjoyed British support and
remained in office until June 1920 when he had a disagree
ment with the Shah on bis return from Europe and resigned.
He was created G.C.B. in 1919. He is now in England
(October 1920). During his first year of office he was the
strongest and most progressive Premier whom Persia has yet
seen. During the last few months his health and resolution
gave way; he became inaccessible and very unpopular and his
retention in office caused much anti-British feeling.
Since his fall from office popular feeling towards him has
changed by reason of the incapacity and vacillation shown by
the Cabinet of Mushir-ud-Dauleh (No. 17), as the people generally
are beginning to realise that they did not know when they were
well off. It may not be wrong to predict that the time is not
far off when he will again be Prime Minister of Persia, and he
has undoubtedly a brilliant career before him. He is a man of
great ability and charm and speaks French. He has made a
fortune during his official career.
No. 35. ZAFAR-US-SULTANEH> Azlzullah Mlrza.
Born about 1855. He obtained command of the “fauj”
of Khalkhal, the rank of general (sartip) and twice held the
■office of Commander-in-Chief of the Azarbaijan forces. Until
1900 he was usually at the Court of the Valiahd in Tabriz or
held appointments in Azarbaijan. During this period he
accumulated large estates in Khalkhal which are now (1920)
appropriated by Amir ’Ashayir and the other Shatranlu Chiefs.
He was Governor of Hamadan 1900 to 1903, of Kirman 1903-6,
of Tehran 1907, Minister of War 1907-8, Governor of Kirman-
shah 1908, of Kurdistan 1908, of Astarabad 1911, whence he
went to Mazandaran, of Ardabil 1916-7. He accompanied
Si pah balar to Azarbaijan in 1919 and was Governor of Khalkhal
and Garmarud. He is now (November 1920) in Tehran. He
is an old Kajar Grandee, ludicrously full of his own importance,