Page 239 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAH 1007 1008. 55
I telegraphed the gist of tlicsc letters to tlio Minister and in reply was
told to send a letter to Salar in the terms of my former instructions. These had
been that the Shall had personally assured 11 is Majesty’s Minister in the pre­
sence of the Minister for Foreign Allairs that Salnr’slifc was safe if he sub­
mitted and did not resist the Government, that if he did not wish to go to
Tehran His Majesty would give him a Governorship but not on the frontier,
that when ho felt re-assured he could return to Tehran, hut that if ho resisted
the consequences would rest with him ; lie could not expect the same Governor­
ship and he had better go with a few men to the Persian camp where he would
find the two Consuls, adding that Persian troops would escort him to his new
Governorship. The Minister now added that Salar could expect no help from
the British and Russian Legations unless lie submitted. I had previously
received a telegram stating that by submitting His Imperial Highness would
establish a right to the protection of tho two Governments.
Interests now turnod again to local affairs: on the 12th of June the
Minister informed me that Atabeg and the Assembly had sent telegrams
through him to Mchdi promising him safety and a full enquiry cither at
Tehran or at Hamadan. I was to tell Mohdi that he had better accept the
offer and leave the Consulate. In answer Mehdi asked for two days’ grace,
his object being to get the enquiry held at Kcrmanshati and he and his party
were expecting messengers to reach Tehran to push for that point. Their
efforts were successful for later Zahir-ed-Douleh, the Governor of Ilamadan,
was ordered to Kermanshah to enquire into matters. In the meantime
mnttois with Sabr-ed-Douleh had progressed. He had moved to within six
miles of h ohavend leaving a party at Kliawa for the reception of the two
Consuls whom he still believed to be coming to his camp.
On the 9th of June a battle took place bitwe<n Salar’s troops ar.d these of
the Amir Afkhatn who was garrisoning Nehavend.
Salar assured me later that he was awaiting a letter from me, that the
affair arose out of a skirmish between two parties while lie was asleep, and that
he was awakened to find that fi battle bad commenced against bis orders. This
sounds like the truth for he did not seem anxious to come to blows, the reason
for which I understood later.
The battle having commenced Salar hurried to the spot and bringing up
bis artillery opened fire on the to™. There had been a certain amount of intoi-
coursc between the two armies—if ono can call them such—and the chief of
Salar’s artillery bad been .privately warned that if hostilities took place and he
fired straight, he would have his head cut off later. He apparently did not
believe in the prospects of Salar for though be fired fifty-two shots be hit
nothing ; unfortunately be did not gain by bis action for Salar galloped up to
him and having shot him dead fired two shots, which he aimed himself, which
struck the walls of the city. Zahir-ed-Doulch .congratulated himself greatly
later on this piece of politique by which he was certain he bad avoided great
losses. Salar’s Lurs were gaining steadily when Baood Khan arrived from
Selma with 1,500 of his Kalliur Bowars and speedily put another complexion
on affairs. Salar drew off and retired towards Khurramabad.
This battle occurred on the verv day on which the letter written by the
Russian Acting-Consul and myself should have reached His Imperial Highness,
but owing to the fight it was not delivered and was finally returned to me. On
receiving it hack I telegraphed tho fact to the Minister, with news of the
affair which had occurred.
On tho 13th June I received orders to send a second copy of my former
letter to Salar promising him as before pardon for his actions and a Governor­
ship if he submitted. This letter was sent off the same day.
As can be imagined with the state of the town ftnc! the rebellion of Salar-
cd-Douloh tho country around was in a most unsett'ed condition and robberies
were rife. I had fivo robberies at the Consulate during the month, and on the
33th a rifle was actually stolon from out of the bed of ouc of the escort while
he was sleeping.
On the llth tbs climax wft9 reached ; parties of men came to the high
ground on either side of tho Con sulatc and fired into the Consulate grounds