Papers of the War Cabinet's Eastern Committee [‎45r] (89/544)

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we would take these questions into consideration if, and when, these
events occurred.
Mr. Montagu then read a draft of a telegram to Sir C. Marling,
which he had just written down.
Mr. Balfour said that all lump sums were open to the
disadvantage that the man who received them might not “ deliver
the goods.”
Mr. Montagu suggested that discretion should he given to
Marling and Gough to negotiate, within certain financial limits,
whether it was decided to give a lump sum or to make monthly
payments.
Mr. Keynes said that his department could not view with
equanimity the proposal to give Marling and Gough a free hand.
Mr. Balfour said that he agreed with the Chairman 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 might be bribed with an annual sum, but that we
wanted more information about his estates.
Mr. Oliphant reminded the Committee that the question of
the payment 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 had been raised by the latter last
February, when he was apprehensive of an advance on the capital.
The Committee decided —
To ask the Foreign Office to telegraph to Sir C. Marling in the
following sense :—
(a.) That until they were in possession of fuller informa
tion as to the extent and value 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
estates and his alleged loss of revenue therefrom,
JJis Majesty’s Government are unable to determine
what compensation, if any, should be offered or
promised to him. They would, however, be prepared,
in the event of his losing his estates on account of
his friendship with us, to give that matter their
consideration.
(b.) 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 and his family may be granted
a monthly allowance, not exceeding (j,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
for the period of the war only, so long as he
remains (/) Governor-General of Fars, (ii) friendly
to us.
The Chairman said that on the 18th June Marling had tele
graphed (E.C.-572) to say that the consul at Shiraz had informed
him that the Kawam-ul-Mulk had asked for an understanding on the
following points : —
(a.) That the British Government would guarantee to reimburse
him lor the money losses sustained as a result of his
openly declaring for us ;
(b.) That the same assurance should hold good for his heirs if he
were killed or died ;
(c.) That the British Government would, in case of his enforced
exile, compensate him for his losses.
These demands the consul considered as not more than reason
able, and thought that his active assistance would be well worth the
price ; he also stated that the Kawam-ul-Mulk was awaiting our reply
before ordering his Arabs to declare war against Soulet.
Mr. Oliphant explained that the Kawam was the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the
Khamseh Arab tribe as opposed to Soulet, the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the
Kashgais. He himself was disposed to support this claim, and
suggested that the Treasury should be asked to fix a sum, and that
the consul should be told not to exceed it.
Mr. Keynes said that as regards this claim we had absolutely
no data to go upon. He urged that we must limit the financial
assistance we gave, to very important people only. He thought, in
MW