'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎24r] (52/310)

Memorandum of information received during
the month of May 1905, regarding
external affairs relating to Persia.
[Note.—T his memorandum is based upon reports, the accuracy of
which it is not always possible to guarantee.]
PERSIA.
1. Tehran. —The Shah has left for
Europe. It is stated that lie eventually sur
mounted the Ain-ed-Dowleh’s opposition by
threatening him publicly with the return of
the late Atabeg. The Grand Vizier, with a
view to keeping down expenses, has insisted
that any persons not actually appointed on the
Shah’s suite shall travel at their own expense.
2. The Motemid-ul-Khaghan and the
Nizam-es-Sultan, two Chamberlains of high
famiiies, have been severely bastinadoed in the
presence of the Court for intriguing against
the Grand Vizier and then expelled from
Tehran. The Egbal-ed-Dowleh has been
appointed Minister of Crown Domains as a
reward for exposing their intrigues.
3. The Sadik-ul-Mulk has been appointed
Minister to Holland, and the Momtaz-es-
Sultaneh, whom he replaces, has been trans
ferred to Paris.
4. The agitation against M. Naus
and his colleagues (paragraph 8 of the
April Memorandum) has somewhat subsided.
Saiyid Abdulla, a high Mujtehid of Tehran
who was the chief leader of the movement,
received a conciliatory letter containing vague
promises from the Shah and a gift of money
from the Grand Vizier, to whom he is avowedly
hostile. The Shah’s letter was read to the
collected tullabs, and the period of the
“ Ashureh ” passed oil without any disturbance.
Abdulla’s house is under surveillance, and he
himself has been warned that any attempt to
recommence the agitation will be accompanied
by his expulsion from the city.
The Russian Minister has officially notified
to the Persian Government that, as the Russian
loans had been accorded by his Government on
the understanding that their security, the Cus
toms, would remain under European adminis
tration, a change in this respect would neces
sitate Russia taking “ other measures for
ensuring the regular payment of the debt”, or,
in other words, the appointment of Russian
Customs officials.
5. The reorganisation scheme (paragraph
5 of the April Journal) for the army has been
made public.