ملاحظات أُعدت كمرجع خلال جولة كرزون في الخليج الفارسي، وأوراق أخرى عن بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي [و‎‎٢‎٤‎٣] (٦٧٨/٤٨٥)

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
NO. 1. PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY.
CONFIDENTIAL.
ASIA.
[November 19.]
Section 1.
2520
No. 1.
Sir M. Durand to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received November 19.)
(No. 61. Confidential.)
My Lord, Tehran, October 21, 1896.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith a Persian diary,
from the 27th September to the 23rd October, which has been drawn up by
Mr. Wyndham.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. M. DURAND.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Diary of Persian Affairs from September 27 to October 23, 1896, by Mr. Wyndham.
DURING the past month no particular events of importance have occurred.
Indeed, the Central Government appears too weak and timid to take any action,
although from nearly every part of the country accounts of misrule, or rather of no
rule at all, are received. The discontent is very general, and in the capital it is
increased by the presence of the Shah’s suite from Tabriz, who came here expecting
office, and have for the most part been disappointed. But no connected action is
taken on the part of-the people, partly because the strength of the tribal leaders
was thoroughly broken by the late Shah, partly because—and this is scarcely an
exaggeration—there are no Persians who thoroughly trust each other. It is for
this reason, to a great extent, that Government organization is so weak, and that
the Sadr Azam has to bear, with the necessary results, nearly the whole burden of
administration on his own shoulders. The Shah himself is feeble in health and ignorant,
and does not command, as his father did, the respect of the people. Popular songs
are sung in the streets of Tehran, describing him as a nurserymaid, and as “Sister
Muzaffar,” and an appeal to the people, said to be by the pen of Malkum Khan,
formerly Minister in London, and now living in Paris, in favour of a more liberal
Government, is being disseminated throughout the country.
From Khorassan, from Kerman, from Ears and Luristan, come the same reports
of anarchy. The Governor-General of Meshed is reported helpless in the hands of the
priests; the tribes on the Beluch frontier are refusing to pay taxes, saying that they
do not believe the Shah has been enthroned, and the nomads are still pillaging near
Shiraz, instigated, it is hinted, by the Deputy-Governor of the Province. When the
new Governor of Fars arrived on the frontier, he was met, it is said, by an influential
deputation, who told him he had better return; if he had come to govern, they
had had enough of Governorship under the Rukm-ed-Dowleh ; if he had come for
taxes, they had no money.
The assailant of Mr. Tanfield is now confined in the Shah’s prison in Tehran,
but it is characteristic of the weakness of the Government that they dare not let the
fact of his imprisonment be made public for fear of disturbances on the part of the
Mullahs.
An officer of the Japanese army, Colonel Fukushima, who has studied and
travelled in Europe, has lately passed through Persia and Transcaspia. He did
[1626 /—l]