Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎44v] (88/544)

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(3.) 3,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month to his family in Teheran, of which
1,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. to Firuz ;
(4.) 40,000L a year in case ol exile, of which 10,000£. to
Firuz.
The Chairman said that he thought Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Finras demands
were quite preposterous. The alternatives had apparently been
shown bv Gough to Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma, who objected to them as being
inadequate. Gough had then strongly urged that the original
proposal should be accepted without discussion.
Mr. Balfour said that as we had not enough troops in South
Persia, he thought we must adopt the alternative of payments.
The Chairman said that Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma had been a good friend
to the British interests for some years ; he was committed to our
side, but his position was very difficult, and now in order to keep
him straight we were asked to consent to a ridiculous bribe.
Lord Hardinge said that* so far as his department was concerned,
the purely office point of view was that we might accept the first
three alternative suggestions of Marling’s, and also give firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’).
Firma a lump sum in lieu of the annual payment of 40,000/. a year,
provided that we were given satisfactory guarantees in return.
The Chairman said that the looses of revenue from his property
sustained by Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma were really due to disorders in the
country, and had nothing to do wdth us, so far as he could see.
Mr. Oliphant pointed out that most of Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma’s property
lay in the north, and especially around Teheran, and he may have
been unable to collect the revenue for some time. His great fear was
that if he definitely came over to us and an unfriendly Persian
Government came into power, he v^ould be deprived of all his revenue.
Mr. Montagu said that he agreed with Mr. Balfour. If we
wished to bribe him to remain on our side, we must be prepared to
offer a sufficiently large bribe to secure his adherence. He thought,
however, that if we offered a lump sum, he might actually seek
exile. He suggested that Marling should be informed that he w'as
at liberty, within certain limits, to negotiate with him.
The Chairman pointed out that he was already on our side, and
said he did not see the necessity to pay him an excessive bribe now.
We certainly might have to pay him if he actually lost either his
estates or his Governorship, or were compelled to leave the
country.
Mr. Oliphant said that unless we paid him we might lose our
only asset in the province of Fars, which was the friendship of the
Governor-General.
Mr. Keynes said it was impossible to give 40,000/. a year. It
could not be done out of the Vote of Credit, and, as a recurring
charge, it would have to come before Parliament; besides which, as
Mr. Montagu pointed out, if we gave him this money, it would
appear to be more lucrative for him to abdicate than to remain. He
suggested offering him some monthly sum so long as he acted on our
side. He strongly advised against giving a lump sum, and stated that
his department would sooner pay in sterling than in tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
General Smuts said, to guarantee the lives, honour, and free
enjoyment of property to Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma and his family was an
entirely undefined claim, and, moreover, a preposterous demand. So
far, Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma had not been actively assisting us witii forces ;
he h‘d merely given his blessing to the South Persia Rifles.
The Chairman suggested that Marling should be informed that
we cannot decide about compensation without further information,
but that he might be offered, say, 2,00(>Z. a month so long as he
remained— (a) Governor-General of Fars, and (6) friendly to us.
Mr. Keynes thought that we should only offer this monthly
payment for the period of the w T ar.
The Chairman said as regards the remaining items, w^e might
say that, if his estates were confiscated or he had to go into exile,