"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (٥٦٦/٧٠)

THE PERSIAN REVOLUTION
37
it H
incoi
Us
:oasj
Eij®;
e inti
lespt
top*;
or |
'ed Ij;
andt
emim
R»
.gree®
red tot
selyt
Mgelf
' wifli
and*
r Rim
at Peti
.11a
;t otp
.and, li
i hanfc
jf nite
dispte
;he aoji
jroftf
inhabit
;uspici® :
!’eWb»«
is he#
ipnlace 11 :
tosn#
[ve the (!
onsbetf
y 1908 ^;
L atP asi
work of his political enemies. Consequently the situation
became more strained than ever and in June the Shah, ordering
the bombardment of the Majlis by Colonel Liakhoff and
his Persian Cossacks, abolished the constitution and re
established an autocracy. Popular risings at once took place
at Tabriz and elsewhere. Finally in July 1909 the combined Abd^tkm
forces of the Nationalists and the Bakhtiaris captured Tehran Muhammad
after a few days fighting, followed two days later by Muhammad ah, 1909.
Ali’s abdication. The constitution was restored and Sultan
Ahmad, Muhammad All's twelve-year old son, succeeded to
the throne.
During the popular rising at Tabriz the Russians had sent
troops there for the protection of foreign subjects, and their
arrival had proved beneficial in that it put an end to the
fighting round Tabriz and saved the Nationalists from royal
reprisals. But the Russians proceeded to send more troops
to Enzeli and to Kazvin on the pretext that the lives of
foreigners were endangered, which was untrue. The British
protested. But it was not till the Majlis assembled in
November that the Russians began to withdraw part of the
troops they had sent into the country; and even that they
ceased to do as it became evident that the new Cabinet was
imbued with great hostility to Russia.
The political party styling itself Democrat—really formed Political
of extremists with strong anti-foreign views—obtained andP arties *
maintained ascendancy over the Moderates mainly by methods
of intimidation and assassination ; and the Cabinet it appointed
was controlled by an irresponsible body of Young Persians,
whose preposterous behaviour forced Ministers to resign time
and again. As none of the Young Persians had the executive
experience, character or authority to govern a province, they
had to fall back on officials of the old regime, and these found
themselves checked and thwarted at every turn by the young
inexperienced officials and by the local provincial assemblies.
Animosities and dissensions increased and the whole country
suffered from disorder.
The Democrats had hoped to put an end to the domi
nating Russian influence, but the great hostility they displayed
towards the Russians was so resented by the latter that they
felt no hesitation in raising difficulties to embarrass the new
Government. Rebel leaders found refuge or support in
Russia; Russian officials connived at an armed attempt by
the ex-Shah and his brother Salar-ud-Daula to regain the
throne ; and the prevalent dissensions and disorders gave the