Page 144 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

40 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP

way of pretending friendship and then seizing the required guests and keeping them
prisoners. I observe that Captain Gough states that the Farman Farina refers to
this system as la naule 'politique.
In December the elections started in Kermanshah. At. first all went well under
the virile control of the Imam-i-Juma. A party of the clergy stood aloof sayinc
that once there was an assembly to which disputes and questions could be referred
the Urf or Civil law would begin to oust the Shara or Religious law. Of the truth
of their contention I think no doubt can exist. The Imam-i-Juma was, however,
very strongly in favour of the new’ ideas and being bv far the most important
and influential Mujtahid in the town lie controlled affairs and the election meetings
commenced. Had he lived the disturbances which afterwards took place might
have been avoided. But he died shortly after, and immediately on his death
the two parties sprang up.
About this time it also became certain that the Shah could not live much
longer, and cartridges and tents, etc., were sent down from Tehran so as to be ready
in case any disturbances should take place. It was given out that the Governor
was proceeding to the frontier with troops, but I do not think many people had
much doubt as to the real reason for the preparations.
On the 10th of January I was officially informed of the death of the Shah,
which had taken place on the 8th and of the'accession of the new Shah Mohammed
Ali Mirza. No disturbance of any kind took place and no one seemed particul&rlv
interested.
In February election affairs came to a head. The two parties which formed
were the same in origin as the two which had fought in the earlier part of the year.
These parties were now’ considerably re-inforced on both sides. The one to which
I have always referred as the aristocratic party and which consisted of the local
landowners and nearly all the Mullahs with the followers of both, were in reality
opposed to any change in the constitution and especially were against the selection
of members for the local assembly -which the people were making. The other part
was composed of the common people, notably the trades-people and one or two
Mullahs whom the people followed. The leader of this party was a Mujtahid Aglia
Mahomed Mehdi by name. This division of parties is the natural sequence of
events, as natural as was the division of England into Cavaliers and Roundheads.
Until the proclamation of the constitution the power in the country lay ab-
solutel}’ in the hands of the official classes and the Mullahs: the former had in their
hands all physical, the latter all moral power. The new system strikes at the former
power directly, at the latter indirectly, but at both with equal force.
The class from which Governors are recruited is. even if not openfr so,
naturally in sympathy with the aristocratic party. To this rule the exceptions
are rare.
At the same time the people goaded beyond the limit of patience by the tyranny
of the officials and the corruption of the Mullahs were ready to seize with avidity
the opportunity of freedom provided for them by their compatriots at Tehran.
There in no doubt also a considerable feeling amongst the upper class of traders
that they would like to pay back in part some of the tyranny and extortion to
which they have been subject.
This, then, being the situation it is not difficult to understand what has
followed.
The people had elected the members whom they desired to represent t&em-
This election apparently required the official sanction. The Governor, however
dallied and procrastinated and the aristocratic party protested that the elections
were irregular and did not represent that elusive quality, the will of the people.
The question was referred to Tehran, but no definite answer came. At last <»
the 14th of March the people tired of waiting closed the bazaars and went ioxo
“ hast 11 in the town square.
The aristocratic party collected in the house of a Mujtahid. Rais-d-nlem*-
On the 17th of March an order, came from Tehran, that Muin-ur-ray*s
Rais-ut-tujar with Shaikh Mohammad Hassan, leading members of theamtocra
party (though hardlv aristocrats) should be seized and turned out of e
foe men proclaimed obtained previous news of this order and disappeared iTom kc .