Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎238r] (475/678)

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty’s Grovemment.]
No. 7. PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY.
ASIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
2526
[December 28.]
Section 1.
No. 1.
Sir M. Durand to the Marquess of Salisbury. — (Received December 28.)
(No. 64.)
My Lord, Tehran, November 24, 1896.
I HAVE the honour to transmit a Persian news’ diary from the 23rd October to
the 23rd November, which has been drawn up by Lieutenant-Colonel Picot.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. M DURAND.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Summary of News from October 23 to November 23, 1896.
REFERRING to the diary of the 16th March to the 16th April, where mention
is made of the depreciation of the copper money; the measures taken by His Majesty
the Shah have resulted in the withdrawal from circulation of copper coin to the value
of 80,000/. The Imperial Bank of Persia has received instructions to continue the
purchase till a fair working value has been established between that metal and
silver, and it is expected that a total expenditure of 120.000/. will effect this
purpose.
Silver money continues very scarce, though the wdhte metal is being coined as
rapidly as the indifferent machinery at the mint will allow. The Imperial Bank of
Persia is being solely employed for the import of the bar silver.
The position of this bank has much improved of late. Its ability to raise large
sums of money at short notice, and its readiness of resource, came as a surprise to
the Persian Government, and has greatly added to its prestige throughout the
country.
The Government finds itself more and more dependent on the bank, whilst the
people are showing their confidence by dealing largely in its notes, which hitherto have
been a drug in the market.
In Teheran, all interest during the last month has been centered on the position
of the Sadr Azam and the intrigues of the Court. The Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma, it would appear,
was much disappointed at the distrust shown towards him by the Sadr Azam, and the
refusal of the latter to give him the post of Minister of War in the place of the
N alb- es-Sultaneh.
This developed into active hostility when the Prime Minister appointed his
son-in-law, the Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Akram, a man of no special merit or ability, to the executive
command of the army, retaining the portfolio of the Ministry in his own hands.
The near relationship existing between the 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 the Shah gave him
great personal influence, and enabled him to unite the two most important parties of
the State then intriguing for office. The Sadr Azam had unfortunately alienated the
Tabreez Court officials, who had not met with that recognition at his hands which
their long service in Azerbaijan with the Valiahd had led them to expect, and
had been long in direct opposition to a strong faction in Teheran amongst which,
were to loe found the brothers of the late Shah, the Amin-ed-Dowleh, and many of the
chief Ministers.
To add to his difficulties, financial troubles had supervened consequent on the
refusal of the provincial Governors to forward the year’s revenue to Teheran, whilst
the want of confidence always shown towards him by the Shah had gone on steadilv
increasing since his accession, A deadlock naturally occurred, and when the Sadr
Azam presented the Shah with an ultimatum demanding the unconditional support of
His Majesty, the latter seems to have had no alternative but to remove him from office
[1626 r—1]