In October 1910, increasing unrest in southern Persia led the
British government to demand that the Persian central government
restore order. The Persian government decided to create a
highway gendarmerie with the aid of European instructors.     At
the beginning of the 20th century, the central government of
Persia was in an enfeebled state. After the beginning of the
Constitutional Revolution in 1906 and subsequent unrest, only a
shadow remained of Persia’s military and police forces. This
power vacuum led to disturbances in the provinces. Security for
the populace was non-existent, and bandits roamed the highways.
The struggle for control over Persia between Great Britain and
Russia, which the British press called “the Great Game,” had
ended in a draw. The way out of this stalemate was an agreement
reached in 1907, whereby Persia was divided into Russian and
British spheres of interest, while the two countries promised to
respect the integrity and independence of Persia (see ANGLO-
RUSSIAN CONVENTION OF 19