'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎9r] (22/310)

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these conditions being improperly carried out,
or of a fresh tax being imposed upon the
Christian population of the Urmia district in
order to assist the collection of the indemnity,
the American Government claim to exact the
whole fine of 50,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
The United States Minister was informed
that the cause of delay in the acceptance
of the terms of indemnity by the Persian
Ministry was to be found in the private advice
tendered by the Russian Legation. An official
communique has, however, been issued in the
“Agence Tel^graphique de Saint-Petersbourg”,
stating that the gratitude of the American and
Persian Governments has b en conveyed to
that of Russia for the assistance rendered by
the latter Power in settling the matter. In
so far as America is concerned, the statement
is published as emanating from the Russian
Ambassador at Washington.
10. The new Governor of Urmia (see
paragraph 6 of the January Journal) and the
Special Commissioner, sent by the Shah in
connection with the recent attack on
Captain Gough at Urmia, arrived at Tabriz
in December last. It appears from the details
of the incident furnished by Captain Gough
that the assault was unprovoked and took
place in broad daylight near the village of
Dizah, about two miles from Urmia, where
the Consul and his escort were riding. His
assailants were a party of eight Dasht Kurds,
the followers of a Begzadeh Chief, named
Tamar Beg, who were known to have
been for some days hanging about and
marauding in the vicinity of the city. Their
immediate capture was rendered impossible
by the obstructive attitude of both Haji
Nizam-ed-Dowleh, the ex-Governor, and
the Valiahd, the latter of whom appeared to
have taken the Dasht Kurds under his pro
tection. On being informed of the attack,
the Governor promptly occupied the villages
of Dizah and Banda with a force of cavalry,
who confined themselves to extorting money
from the inhabitants until Captain Gough
protested against the barbarities which were
being practised in his name. Attempts were
also made to get the villagers to say that
there was practically no attack at all. The
Majid-es-Sultaneh, formerly Governor at
Urmia, and the Wali, both of whom displayed
help and sympathy at the commencement of
the troubles, encountered the enmity of the
Yaliahd and the Governor to such an extent
that they were obliged to ask for permission
to leave the place, which naturally became
an undesirable residence for them.
11. It appears that the Tehran College,
which was only recently reported (parag aph
3 of Journal for November 1901) as being
permanently closed, may after all still remain