File 5257/1919 'Persia: the Military Commission' [‎59r] (122/534)

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[This Docament is the Prop3rty of His Britannic Majesty's Governmpn t]
CONFIDENTIAL.
CONFIDENTIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE EEPORT OF THE ANGLO-
PERSIAN MILITARY COMMISSION BY THE BRITISH MEMBERS.
General.
1. THE Commission wish to emphasise very strongly their opinion that any
scheme of army reform will eventually fail in its purpose unless it is accompanied by
a root and branch reform in civil administration. The abuse, corruption and
inefficiency now existing in all public services in Persia are so gross that, while they
exist, an efficient army can only be an instrument of oppression.
2. The military forces are maintained only to carry out the policy of the civil
government and cannot be divorced from that policy, and it is highly undesirable
that British officers should be associated with the present corrupt and oppressive
administration. To maintain order while the Persian official fills his pockets would be
a despicable role.
3. In order to reassure the country that the reorganised army will not serve
merely to strengthen the position of dishonest officials the Commission recommend
that at the same time as, or even previous to, the reorganisation of the army, the
Persian Government should show concrete evidence of their intention to effect
reforms in the collection of revenue and the administration of justice.
4. The abolition of corrupt assignments of revenue to private persons, the
establishment of some simple form of tribunal for the trial and punishment of
malefactors, who can now usually escape by the payment of a bribe, insistence on the
responsibility of tribal chiefs, kalantars, &c., the initiation of honest and consistent
policies towards the tribes, the enforcement of an Arms Act placing the whole traffic
in arms and ammunition under Government control and prohibiting the carrying of
arms without a licence in prescribed areas, the strengthening of the Customs and
preventive services to put an end to the illicit importation of arms and ammunition,
and the opening up of communications are all measures closely affecting the interests
Animals, af the military forces and must precede the establishment of a stable Government,
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British Policy.
5. The Commission have found that considerable apprehension exists in the
ninds of many Persians with whom they have been brought into contact as to the
iltimate intentions of the British towards their country. All classes dread annexa-
tion, but at the same time the reformers and the bulk of the population, who are
3ager for reform and believe in our policy, are afraid to throw in their lot with us
vhole-heartedly as they are doubtful whether His Majesty’s Government are really
orepared to continue their support in Persia until the necessary reforms have been
mrried out, as they fully recognise that should British support be suddenly with-
Irawn they would be left at the mercy of their enemies. The Commission therefore
consider that a pronouncement restating the intentions of His Majesty’s Government
non-annexation and at the same time stating their intention not to withdraw their
support until the necessary reforms had been carried through would do much to
stabilise the situation and give confidence to our supporters.
External Dangers.
6. The Commission wish to invite attention to paragraph 8, Chapter I, of their
Report;, and to emphasise the fact that for some considerable time to come Persia will
De dependent on foreign aid for the defence of her frontiers against organised
aggression. In the immediate future foreign aggression is likely to be accompanied
3 y internal disturbances, and consequently only a portion of the small military forces
vill be available for concentration on the frontiers.
internal Dangers.
7. In the opinion of the Commission, the lawlessness, disorder and anarchy now
xisting are largely due to unjust administration and the dishonest treatment of
bribes by Persian officials. Much of the present feeling of hostility on the part of
he tribes towards the Central Government appears to be due to their distrust, born
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