ملاحظات أُعدت كمرجع خلال جولة كرزون في الخليج الفارسي، وأوراق أخرى عن بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي [ظ‎‎٢‎٣‎٢] (٦٧٨/٤٦٤)

2
It should be mentioned that the Russian Minister supported the Sadr Azam m
this high-handed attitude, and, consequently, the warnings given by Her .Britannic
Maiesty’s Representative were not taken in good part, or not altogether so.
On the morning of the 24th November the bolt fell, and the Sadr Azam
informed that he was dismissed from office, and must remain in Ins garden until tne
further pleasure of the Shah should be made known. , , w ^
He replied that he was only too anxious to be relieved of his ofhce, and that
would not “stir hand or foot” so long as his safety and property were
At the same time, he immediately informed Her Britannic Majesty s Minister of what
had occurred, while deprecating any action on the part of either Legation to reinstate
him, as any such attempt would, he was convinced, cost him his Inn.
Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister, upon receipt of the news telegraphed it to the
•several Consular Offices, and sent the Nawab to visit the fallen Minister _
His next care was to inform the manager of the Imperial Bank of Persia of what
had occurred, and to request him to be prepared, should the Shah require a large
This Mr. Rabino expressed himself as both able and willing to furnish, while he
had alreadv notified his branches not to draw bills on Tehran for the present.
The Nawab returned about 2 p.m., with the information that the Sadr Azam ha
been required to surrender his official insignia, and had been offered the Governors ip
of Hamadan or Kermanshah. m m/uw arm
Upon his refusal, he was ordered to quit Tehran with the least possible delay, and
Being ^unable to trust any member of his own retinue, he asked that a Legation,
<c a-holam,” might be placed at his disposal, which was immediately done.
In addition, he requested that Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister should concert,
with Russia’s Representative, some measures to insure his safety, in accordance with,
which request, Sir Mortimer Durand called upon M. de Butzow, and agreed that both
Ministers should approach the Shah for that purpose. _ ,
In the evening I received a visit from his Highness the Barman Farina s
Confidential Secretary, who, after narrating the various incidents of the day requested
that Sir Mortimer Durand should call upon the new Minister tor Foreign Affairs, the
Mushir-i-Dowleh, as soon as possible. • ^
He urged that by adopting this course, the Legation would naturally gam the
credit of being the first to recognize the new order, while the Farman Farma and his
party would derive considerable benefit from so prompt a recognition.
To this Sir Mortimer Durand agreed, and, after sending his congratulations,
expressed his strongest desire that the Sadr Azam should be generously treated, which
was met by the fullest assurances that such was the intention of all parties. _
At the same time, it was requested that the Farman Farma should be mforme
that the two Ministers only requested an audience of the Shah, in order to insure good
treatment to the fallen Minister, and that no attempt would be made to urge that
His Majesty’s decision should be reconsidered. ^ ,
At an early hour on the morning of the 25 th November, the Far man Farma s
Secretary again visited me with the request that Her Britannic Majesty s Minis er
should visit the Mushir-i-Dowleh before being received in audience by the Shah.
This, he explained, was advisable, as otherwise it would be supposed that the
new Ministry was only accepted after the audience, which fact would lower its
1 He left with the promise that the Minister would accede to his request, and, at
the same time, he repeated his assurances as to the safety of the Sadr Azam.
Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister, accordingly, called upon the Mushir-i-Dowleh,
who was much gratified at his visit, and even more so upon receiving the assurance
that, owing to his great experience of European Courts and perfect knowledge of
French, his appointment was considered most appropriate by all the Members of the
Corps Diplomatique who had expressed their views on the subject.
The Shah received both the British and Russian Ministers together m the
afternoon, and, in reply to M. de Butzow’s expression of regret at the fall of a
Minister, who had maintained such good relations between Persia and the Powers,
His Majesty, with great dignity, said that it was the Shah who. was the friend of
foreign Powers, and that all his servants were but instruments of his will, who did not
affect the Imperial policy. , . 5
Acceding to a last request of the Sadr Azam, Her Britannic Majesty s Minister