"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٦] (٦١٦/٢٥٧)

00 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY
Suleiman Mirza, a young prince possessed of some eloquence, speedily ca
to the front and was one of the chief leaders of the popular party in subseqiw
local politics. He began to deliver anti-foreign speeches in connection w^th
the Anglo-Russian agreement but they were not well received and he did at
continue. He finally had to leave Kermanshah accused of being a Babi.
Zahir-ed-Douleh had now married his daughter to the grandson f
Zahir-el-Mulk and his warmth [towards the popular party began to decrea
complaints were general and it was openly stated that if he did not himself
take bribes like other Governors his agents undoubtedly did so and that V
apathy was worse than the rapacity of an ordinary Hakim.
The two Commissioners from Tehran warned him that he had been special!
re-appointed because he had said that he would recover the money due to th
people and that if he did not propose to fulfil his promise he had bette 6
resign his appointment. On this Zahir-ed-Douleh by a private arrangement with
them imprisoned the chiefs of all the local regiments including his new
relations by marriage. That is to say they were imprisoned by day 5 and went
home at night returning the following morning. He also imprisoned the three
Kadkhudas of the Mahalias involved. This farce did not last long hut the
Governor promised that all the money should be paid within ten davs and
opened a public subscription ! On the 7th day perceiviDg the hopelessness
of his position he departed by moonlight. His wife and family had left a dav
or two previously on account of the illness of a daughter at Tehran, a fact which
had given rise to a certain amount of suspicion.
Thus once again Kermanshah was without a Governor and as no one was
appointed from Tehran Zahir-el-Mulk, chief of the Zangineh tribe, took over
the charge of the town and was confirmed latter as Deputy-Governor.
The new ruler returned to ancient methods of cutting off limbs, et cetera
and governing by fear. However much this may shock humanity, it stands
to reason'that the form of Government must be suited to the civilisation of
the people to be governed havinsr also regard to the means at hand to enforce
order. To cut off one man's head for highway robbery is more humane than
to allow, by weakness of Government, the murder of twenty innocent citizens.
The town became quiet and continued so.
Zahir-el-Mulk informed the militia that he would be glad if they would
cease drilling while he was Deputy-Governor and also asked the local assemblies
of which many had sprung up, to refrain from sitting as he did not understand
new ways.
After a little, however, telegrams began to arrive in connection with
affairs at Tehran. The council at Tabriz wired that after his want of faith with
the Constitution they could no longer recognize the Shah as ruler, the local
assembly of Ispahan followed suit and soon the Kermanshahis were being earned
along on top of the wave of disaffection. Moin-ur-Raya, a former shining
light of the aristot'ractic party, made a speech saNingitwas the duty ©f the
town to raise cavalry seize the guns and march to Tehran to the assistance of
the Assembly. Ihe Shah, however, soon gave way and on the failure of his
coupdetat telegrams were received from Tehran and most of the larger cities
saymg that misunderstandings had been removed and all should give thanks
to bod The Ispahanis added that the Shah had been misled by evil men and
was not to blame. J
It will be seen that the telegraph has given a cohesion to the papular
party which could not otherwise have been obtained, news would have taken
weeks to filter through and it would have been impossible without it to produce
the rapidity of action required. At Kermanshah it was considered that after
several large cities had openly expressed their intention of throwing off their
allegiance to the Shah it would be very difficult for him to remain in his
present position.
The militia commenced their parades once more and the Governor made
no objection.
T. th i ^ ) ^ ce ^ er t wo telegrams arrived from people, one from
ikb # Pazl Ullah of Tehran saying that the Majlis was against the Shara
r religious law, the other from the Majlis warning the people against Sheikh