Page 243 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAH 1907 1908. 59
On the 9th October Znliir-cd-Douleh was dismissed from the Governorship
and Saif-cd-Doulch was rc-appointcd, Tho settlement of the troubles caused
by the riots at Kermanshah had oecupied the time of tho assembly at Tehran
and it was decided that Saif-cd-Douleh was to return, was to pay the value
of tlio goods lost in the looting and was to recover the amount from those
who were to blame.
Tho appointment, or its terms, did not please the notables of Kermanshah
who bad benefited considerably and who did* not want to be made to pay
especially those who were in command of regiments.
Zahir-cd-Douleh was reappointed Governor of Ilamadan but refused to
leave till he Lad been paid for the period of his Governorship of Kcrmaushah.
On the 22ud of October a considerable amount of firing took plaeo
immediately behind the Consulate and within 100 to 300 yards of it. The
Consulate guard turned out and troops came up from the Kadkhuda of the
Mohalla but by this time tlioso concerned had moved off towards the north,
skirting the town and continuing their firing. Shots fell in the Turkish
Consulate-General and tho Telegraph Office while several ricochets passed over
the Consulate but without striking it. Two days after, a shot from the town
passed over the Consulato going very near Mr. Mansou of the Dank who was
standing on the roof.
There is little doubt that the object of the attack—an attack on nothing in
particular—was to make the Consul report on the unsettled state of tho
country since the appointment of Saif-cd-Douleh hud been announced.
On the 25th there was a quarrel between a Mabomcdau and a servant of
the Alliance Israelite. The latter, who was not to blame, was re-inforced by
the Sarbazes of the guard at the Alliance and by a Mahomcdan servant.
In the further quarrel that resulted a servant of the brother of the
Imam-i-Juma hit one of the Sarbazes who took him into the court of the
Alliance Israelite for punishment. Monsieur Sagues, in charge of the
Alliance at Kermanshah, hearing of the matter came out and ordered the
man to be released and asked the Imam Juma to enquire into the matter.
Before this could be done tho crowd had heard of the aflair and pouring iuto
the house of the Alliance Israelite seized Monsieur Sagues, accusing him of
having insulted the Mahometan religion, dragged him to the Musjid-i-Juma.
He was there threatened with death but was saved by tho Imam-i-Juma who
arrived at the critical moment. A few days afterwards Monsieur Sagues
arrived at the British Consulate saying that he had oertain information that
the Jewish quarter was to be raided on the Roz-i-Katl. It turned out that
Monsieur Sagues was a Turkish subject and so I had to send him to tho
Turkish Consul-General. Mousieur Nicolsky had informed me that ho
protected French interests sol told M. Sagues to address him on account of
the Alliance. Neither of these two officers were particularly pleased at being
appealed to by the Jews and it was fortunate for M. Sagues that I received
a telegram from cur Minister saying that we protected the Alliance in company
with the French, otherwise I fear the unfortunate Jew would not have received
much protection. Tho Karguzar gave me a letter promising the safety of the
Jewish quarter, for which be is responsible, and Monsieur Sagues roturned to
his home.
On the 15th November Zahir-cd-Doulch was reappointed Governor of
Kermanshah, on hearing which the people took “bast ” at the Telegraph Office
as tbev had understood that Saif-ed-Douleh was being sent back expressly
because he had been Governor when the town was looted and was therefore
according to Persiau ideas responsible for whatever took place durin® his
period of rule.
On the 22nd November, however, two Commissioners arrived from Tehran,
one appointed by the Department of Justice and one by tho members of the
Assembly. Tnoy were originally intended to see that Saif-ed-Douleh fulfilled
his promises but now turned their attention to the re-appointed Governor.
The people’s party increased in power and the militia which had boen raised
commenced its drills.