. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Enclosure—Translation]
Decree of the Persian Council of Ministers, July
27, 1918
To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Public Works, Commerce, and Agriculture:
Whereas the treaties, agreements, and concessions taken from Persia
during the last hundred years by the despotic Russian Government and
its people had been secured from Persia either by duress and force
or through illegitimate means, such as threats and bribes, and are
against the interests of Persia;
Whereas the Great Powers of the world have, since the beginning of
the present war, in various ways announced to the people of the
world the protection, integrity, and economic and political
independence of the weak nations;
Whereas the new Government of Russia has announced as its goal the
liberty and integrity of the nations, and has particularly,
repeatedly, officially and unofficially announced the abrogation of
all concessions and treaties which had been taken from Persia by the
Russians;
Whereas the above-mentioned concessions, in addition to having been
forcibly taken from Persia—against the interests of the
country—together [Page 647] with
those secured from Persia after the establishment of the Persian
Constitutional Government—against the provisions of the
Constitution—have either not been put into force, or have been very
badly executed, or their provisions have not been complied with: not
only the defined rights of the Government have not been respected,
but in many cases these concessions by transfer or abuse of their
provisions, have been the source of political and economic
difficulties and pretexts, injuring the integrity of the country and
the interest of the people;
Whereas the Government and people of Persia have the same right as
all other nations and governments to be benefitted by their
resources and their natural liberty;
Therefore, the Council of Ministers, at their meeting of Asad 4, 1297
(July 27, 1918), equal to Shaval 18, 1336, have resolved the
abrogation of all above-mentioned treaties, agreements and
concessions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hereby instructed to
announce the text of this decision to all the officials and
representatives of foreign governments at the court of Persia, and
to all Persian Ministers at the courts of foreign governments. The
Ministry of Public Works, Commerce and Agriculture is to inform the
public of the same through its proper means.
The original of this decision is kept in the files of the President
of the Council of Ministers.
Najaf-Ghou,
Samsam-os-Saltaneh
President
of the Council of Ministers
