ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ٧ "الحرب الألمانية: بلاد فارس" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٥] (٥١٩/٢٩٥)

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European agitators, they threaten to become of suoh a character that only a
very strong Government, with the support of British and Russian Legations,
can hope to cope with it.
Mv French and Russian colleagues and I have agreed to bring about form-
nfinn of a stron^ Persian Cabinet Council and Saad-ed-Dowleh, Ain-ed-
Dowleh and Parraan Parma have signified their willingness to take office. My
Russian colleague and I are to see His Imperial Majesty the Shah to-morrow
and urge on His Majesty the acceptance of such a Cabinet. In case situation
nrmears likely to get beyond our control, we also consider that Russian troops
which are stationed at Kasvin should he brought to Tehran and reinforcements
held in readiness to proceed in reserve. My Russian colleague is sending a
telegram to his Government in this sense, and I trust that requisite authority
mnv ho received from Petrograd at once.
Dismissal of Swedish gendarmerie officers will probably be necessary, but
we are of opinion that we can then rely on gendarmes and on police if they are
paid. Loyalty of Persian Cossack brigade is doubtful, unless they are support
ed by Russian troops.
As regards Bank’s plight, Government is to issue a proclamation in which
it will be declared that Bank notes are legal tender^ at Bank, but Bank will
have to advance some funds to Government which is practically in a penniless
condition. Russian Bank is not in a position to assist the Imperial Bank of
Persia.
Arrival in a day or two of German and Austrian Ministers which is timed
no doubt to coincide with run on Bank, makes next few days ciitical, and pos
sibility of our being able to hold up situation depends, in my opinion, on our
being able to rely on material support which can be afforded by Russian
troops.
Addressed to Foreign Office, sent to India, Basrah and Petrograd.
Telegram P., dated the 23rd (received 24th) April 1915.
Prom—His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, London,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla (repeated to Sir P. Cox).
Persian Gulf. Please refer to my telegram, dated the 2nd December 1914.
I presume Sir Percy Cox is satisfied that nothing more can be done to
conciliate Arabs around Ahwaz and Basrah by free expenditure. I should
approve an increased outlay if Your Excellency and Sir P. Cox consider that
it would be useful.
~s-
(Extract.)
Telegram P., No. 953 B., dated the 24th (received 25th) April 1915.
Prom—The Hon’ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
His Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Tehran on the 22nd instant telegraph
ed as follows:—“ No. 144. Repeated to Basrah and Petrograd.
*^ ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية ** هذه التواريخ تقريبية
“Without financial support the present Government will do nothing
effectual and I fear but little even if we gave it. It is disunited and deplorably
weak and its only merit is its readiness to resign.
“We ought, I think, to work for the formation, under Ain-ed-Dowleh, of a
stronger Cabinet, if possible. Ain-ed-Dowleh is perhaps the only and the best
man in Persia who is capable of dealing with the agitations of the Germans
whose activities are on the increase. He w T ill be accepted by the Russian