Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1219

 DBKHVt ll#t

With all overdue instalments paid up, the total debt of Persia December 31, 1920, was as follows : —

Loans standing

1. Kns*i»n 5 per cent, loan of 1900, 1902 (Roubles* 35,508,000

■2. Russian Consolidated 7 per cant, loan, 1611 (Krans) 60,000,030

3. Indian 5 per cent, loan (£ . 16 4 ' 180,4-1

4. Imperial Bank of Persia o per cent, lean of

1811 (£) l.i.iO;00O « 1 1,228.061

-ii AdYanoasof 1&,2-14, 7 per cent. "00

Uiaaian Advances .... (Bou 7. British AdTancea, 1915-17 . (£)

5. Ditto. (Kiani i.OOO 1,009.060 9. Ditto 19H . (K:»

10. British Loan August 9. 1919 ... £ 2,000,000 j —

Nothing is being paid against Nos. 1. 2 ami 6. All amounts due for
 * and 4 and all interests on No. 5 have bee* regularly me*

■ irraugeinent has yet been made regarding th<- refunding of Xos 5, 7, 8 1 has not yet been obtained. It is the loan Concluded; aeeordii

Article 1 of the loan agreement, which is payable by instalments ' After the

British Financial Adviser shall have taken up the duties of his office at

Teheran.

Defence.

Prior to the Russian Revolution there was at the capital the 'Cossack Brigade,' ot 3 squadrons, 1 infantry battalion, and a battery of 6 (Krupp) guns. The men are Persians, organised and trained by Russian 'officers. In 1912, Russia obtained the formal consent of the Persian Govern- ment to the formation of a similar Cossack Brigade at Tabriz under Russian officers ; the consent of the Persian Government was conditional on the withdrawal of Russian troops in Azerbaijan. The ' Cossack Brigade ' was in the hands of Russia until the Bolsheviks came into power. The two brigades were in 1919 formed as tic Cossack Division and consisted of 56 Russian officers, 202 Persian officers and 7S56 Persian rank and tile. chief exjtense of mantaining the Division is borne by Britain, the balance of rather more than one-third being paid by Persia. In October, 1920, the Russian officers of the Cossack Division were dismissed, and British officers wen being chosen to replace them.

At the end of 1920 there were two brigades of South Persia Rifles ^47 British officers, 190 Persian officers, 256 British and Indiau non-commissioued officers, and 5400 Persian rank and file), with headquarters at Shiraz and Kerman respectively, also a regiment at Bunder Abbas. This force, in which was incorporated a part of the Swedish gendarmerie, is recruited locally and officered and trained by British officers, and forms the only efficient Persian force in Southern Persia.

In January, 1921, there was in north-west Persia a force of about 7,000 British and Indian troops. This force was in process of withdrawal.

The Anglo- Persian Agreement of August 9th, 1919, provides for the formation of a uniform Military Force under the command of British officers. An Anglo-Persian Military Commission recommended in April, 1920, tha:. the Persian Government should take over the South Persian Rifles and the Goesack Division and that the future military forces, including the existing form should consist of 43,000 men. British officers and stalls are to be lent for