File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎18r] (40/416)

CONFIDENTIAL.
Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received April 14, 1*40 p.m.)
(No. 156.) ^ Tehran, April 14, 1910, 2T0 p.m.
FOLLOWING- are the observations of His Majesty’s consul-general at Bushire on
my telegram No. 152 [of 11th April]:—
“ Your telegram No. 152 to the Foreign Office.
Assurance contained in sentence indicated will be welcome to sheikh on general
grounds, but as long as Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad remains Minister of Interior it will not dispose
of present difficulty unless words ‘ or Bakhtiari tribe ’ could be interpolated after words
‘ Persian Government.’ In this connection, please see paragraphs 7, 8, and 9 of Trevor’s
telegram No. 170.
“ I quite realise, however, that in matter of retirement of Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad the
interests of north and south conflict, and some compromise is necessary. A change of
portfolio might improve situation, though it would not fully appease.
“ It would of course be very difficult, as well as inconsistent with the principles of
our policy, for us to guarantee Arabistan against aggression of Bakhtiari tribe or
guarantee Bakhtiari against Kashgai, but, presuming that we cannot intervene in inter
tribal politics, can we reasonably persevere in forcing advice on the sheikh against the
consequences of which we are unable to protect him ?
“ He is quite alive to necessity for maintaining strictly constitutional and loyal
attitude to central Government, and also to the need of avoiding action calculated to
complicate situation in Northern Persia.
“ Wilson understands from Haji Rais that first result of any arrangement come to
between three parties under reference would be diplomatic telegram to Medjliss
expressing complete individual and collective loyalty to constitution and ability and
intention to maintain order and protect trade in their respective spheres, but at the
same time urging the imprudence of placing the control of national affairs in the hands
of tribal heads, who cannot be expected to refrain from using their position to pursue
tribal aims.
“ (Addressed to Tehran ; repeated to India.) ”
I am instructing His Majesty’s consul at Mohammerah to give sheikh message
indicated in my telegram No. 152, and I do not see why we need go further in our
assurances. From resident’s telegrams it would seem that if Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad were to
leave Government he would have no further terrors for sheikh. The assurance
we are now giving latter surely applies to Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Assad so soon as he is in the
Government.
I have no desire to force on sheikh advice against the consequences of which we
should be unable to protect him, but I see no harm in emphasising the fact that
assurances depend on his loyalty to central Government.
(Repeated to Bushire.)
[379—75]