ملف رقم ٩٤٨ لسنة ١٩٠٩ "بلاد فارس: الوضع في الجنوب؛ حالة الطرق. الهجوم على السيد بيل. برنامج حرس الطرق". [و‎‎٧‎٢] (٧٤٤/١٤٨)

* s ^operty of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
PERSIA.
/U° - —
LAs or ieio ;
[December 19.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 5.
[45643]
No. 1.
Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received December 19.)
(No. 221.) '
^ Tehran, November 30, 1910.
SINCE my note of the 14th October regarding the disorders on the southern
trade routes was presented there has been every indication that the Persian Govern
ment at length realise the necessity of opening the main southern road.
The first essential steps to this end—the appointment of a really competent
Governor-General of Ears and of one who can be induced to take up the post—has
already been taken. At first, as you are aware, it was proposed to bring the Zil-es-
Sultan back to Persia to fill this post. Indeed, the Cabinet telegraphed on the
3rd instant offering His Imperial Highness the appointment, which it was known he
was prepared to accept. But Sardar Assad, when he heard of this step, used such
forcible language to the Prime Minister regarding the proposed appointment that the
latter induced Jellal-ed-Dowleh, the Zibs son, to telegraph to his father advising him
not to accept it. It is unfortunate, in view of the Zil’s great prestige in Ears, that
Sardar Assad could not sink his personal animosity, but the Persian Government have
now, I think, made as good a choice as was possible under the circumstances. They
have appointed Nizam-es-Sultaneh, who has recently done good work as Governor of
Kermanshah. He has extensive property between Bushire and Shiraz, and some [
influence in the province of Ears. His Majesty’s consul at Kermanshah reports that
he is on the point of leaving for his new post, and will travel via Bushire.
But without the backing of a strong force there can be little hope that even an
efficient Governor will be able to deal with the situation.
The Minister of War has undertaken to dispatch a force of between 2,000 and
3,000 men to Shiraz, and now that the Persian Government seem about to accept the
offer of financial assistance from the Imperial Bank there seems a good prospect of
Nizam-es-Sultaneh’s receiving the promised support. Meanwhile, it is announced that
Sowlet-ed-Dowleh has guaranteed the safety of the main route from Bushire to Shiraz.
Unfortunately, the value of this guarantee is largely discounted by the news which
reaches me at the moment of writing that the first caravan to abandon the circuitous
routes recently followed and to trust to Sowlet’s guarantee has been looted between
Shiraz and Kazeroun.
I have, &c.
G. BARCLAY.
[1805 t—5]