File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎115v] (235/566)

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and upset our work of reconciliation. Haji Reiss promised me to advise the
Persian Consul-General accordingly, and I understand a mere formal acknow
ledgment will be sent.
The Acting Vali informed Haji Reiss, on May 9th, that the Vali agreed to
his proposal about Muhammad Chanan, whom the Sheikh will remove from
lurkish territory appointing another agent in his place at Zein, that the questions
between them were now settled in a friendly way and there was nothing more
X he letter addressed to me by the Acting Vali on May 8th in reply to mine con
tains assurances to that effect. A copy of the Acting Vali's letter is enclosed.
. Haji Reiss replied that if all was now over, he would like him to write to the
Sheikh to say so, and that their disagreement had been ended in an amicable manner
between himself and the Acting Vali. The Acting Vali replied that the Sheikh
should write first. Hap Reiss then produced from his bag a letter written and
sealed by the Sheikh stating that he had sent Haji Reiss as his Plenipotentiary to
settle matters, and handed it to the Acting Vali, adding that his instruc
tions were to deliver the letter only if matters were settled in a satisfactory
manner. The Acting Vali then agreed to give him his letter if he called
tl i . he , a t f. rn0 ? J n ' , 0n Ha) 1 Reiss calling in the evening of the same day,
Val, told him there was another question pending which must be
settled before he wrote. It appears that, shortly after the Zein incident on April
Isshak, an Arab presented a petition to the Vali to the effect that
Hap Mustafa Mirza Hamza s head moonshee and an Ottoman subject, had
Ih»m t n? ed - t0 h j m n l r n the P re f nce of witnesses. A quarrel had occurred between
them previously and Mustafa threatened Isshak, who now went in fear of his life.
hit 'Iq 3 af , r j‘ ld ‘°. mention the matter before, fearing the wrath of Mirza Hamza,
Vali a t ~ r , th ® Z ? ln a f a, . r > h .<; plucked up courage and denounced Mustafa to the
'bJkr A -' ng u Va ' S f' d “ ustafa , had gone to Mohammerah, and must be
Semi b on k thef p e •' a' a mth - eUS u a way - Ha i‘ Reis s agreed to attend the
papers and a d T/ y pub ' iC u P ro3ecat ° r time to make out his
vEandhS * h a nod ' fficu,t /'n the surrender of Mustafa, who was a
let ! 1 r ,1 bad , t .°?g ued , ma n : whom the Sheikh would not protect against the
action of the judicial authorities. s
voured"^ 9 f t - h ’ ce /' ta ' n '"' cl,s P ose d persons in Basrah again endea-
Arabs of shefut, ^ S 1 L a a 0ns ,, by in , fl ? rmin g the Turkish Authorities that the
midnight bh Th P h f K o ha2a had co , liect , ed 1,1 force an d intended to attack Basrah at
midnight. The troops were ordered out and remained under arms patrolhn? the
town, until morning, and the Authorities were on the alert all night Theresas
TurkTh stn" ■ VhateVer f ° r 5 be l , re P ort - and 1 tras t the incident may'serve to aUay
“ T 3 * 1 suspicions against Mohammerah, and lead the Turkish Authorities to
attach more credence than hitherto to the assurances of the Sheikh’s representa!
he pop”l l i 1 tim. e would r no d the hr A K tmg yi SOme days a S° that attempts ?o alarm
me population would no doubt be made by interested persons who viewed the
reconciliation with disfavour and sought to fish in troubled waters.
were exchanged 0 ^^ S - S the Serai and official communications
The evldencfof X w^T 1 ' 1131 f ° U a / e g ardin g the case of Haji Mustafa,
sufficient bvlhe Conn tn 6 ^ 63 prodll . ced f . or the prosecution was not considered
the Court quashed the charge^ CnmmaI P roceed,n gs against Haji Mustafa and
Arab^fofthe Shlikh^rd^Y Re ‘ SS a J ' etter of recon cihation, written in
Arabic, tor the Sheikh, and asked him to read it over and give him his ohserva.
Actfne vifi Re remLTs r 1 n e e the d terms t, 0 f the letter ' a " d adraitt ed the justice of the
a^'M^mm^T ete^s ttnlro^Xt" ° f ^
enclose a translation of it. “h t
X^^i^ind^^^ ° f G ~‘’ aad
report retltof\irnito,-T ing f 0f u th |u , .? t c h inStant for Mohammerah to
report tne result ot his negotiations to the Sheikh. He expressed himself entirelv
satisfied with the solution of the matter, which has now been arranged as directed