ملف ٣٥١٦\١٩١٤ الجزء ٧ "الحرب الألمانية: بلاد فارس" [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٥١٩/٣٠١)

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40
others friendly to us. Local newspaper, started since Wassninss’s arriral
here is "rowing more and more abusive and inflammatory. Kawam is con-
vinced that Governor-General is mainly responsible for situation, and urges
his immediate dismissal*
Regarding new Governor-General, he suggests, for consideration, name of
Nizam-ul-Mulk, who was Governor-General of Pars some years ago, and is on
eood terms with both Kawam and Soulet. But pending a decision on this
question, it is desirable that arrangement proposed m my telegram ISo. 101
should be put in force as soon as possible.
Addressed Tehran ; repeated Basrah and Bushire. Ends.
'7
Telegram P., No. 45, dated the 1st (received 2nd) May 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
ip 0 The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please see Government of India telegram, No. 429 S. and my telegram
No. 170.
By the substitution of Ain-ed-Dowleh for Mushir-ed-Dowleh in the
Persian Cabinet situation here has been very materially altered.
X think present Government now realises that whatever value Persian
neutrality may have for IXis Majesty’s Government, it is of vital importance
so far as she is concerned, and I am of opinion that present Government will
prove to be both willing and able to defend it without making demands of an
impossible nature which their predecessors indulged in. Por example, though
as a matter of form present Cabinet might demand recall from Kasvin of
Russian troops, I believe, that in their hearts, they would be sorry if they
succeeded in this. I am entirely satisfied, up to the present, with action taken
by them in reply to representations submitted by me, and 1 believe that
it is their sincere desire to work with us. At all events they have acted
energetically in matter regarding Imperial Bank of Persia and Cabinet
is therefore regarded as committed to us. It is also apparent that Persian
Government is doing its utmost to meet wishes of Russian Legation. In the
eyes of Persia we have (been ?) the means of bringing Ain-ed-Dowleh into
Office, and he will not be able to resist Tureo-German pressure if we do not
support him; in which dase Persian questions will again be allowed to drift,
as was the case under Mushir-ed-Dowleh’s regime. The support that will be
required by Ain-ed-Dowleh is, of course, of a financial kind, but I have not
held out any hopes of his receiving such support from us unless and until it is
shown to our satisfaction that administration of Cabinet deserves it.
It is, of course, a question for decision of His Majesty’s Goveriiment as to
value which the neutrality of Persia has for us, but it strikes me that strong
position which has been achieved by my Russian colleague and myself here
within the last few days should, provided our respective Governments are
prepared to afford a reasonable amount of financial support to Persia, enable us
to maintain that neutrality, while, if such support is refused, position now
secured would be worse than thrown away.
Ain-ed-Dowleh has been informed by me that any support, which we may
decide to give, will only be for immediate needs of Persian Cabinet, as hands
of His Majesty’s Government are too full with other matters to discuss any
large scheme, and funds can, of course, he doled out to him and stopped in
the event of Cabinet failing to satisfy our requirements.
Please let me know if I may continue my conversations with Ain-ed-
Dowleh on the above lines and ascertain from Cabinet what are their urgent
needs.
Russian Minister will arrive to-morrow.
Addressed to London Boreign Office; sent to India, Basrah and Petrogradt