File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎123r] (250/566)

13
Regarding the Minawi incident. When you mentioned the matter to me, l
gave the necessary orders, and one day before my departure to the Karun I
captured three of them. As I was on the point of leaving, I could not inform
the Vilayet, and on my return in the same way I captured one more of them, and
informed the agent of the Vilayet that he might send an agent to take them over.
A reply was received, an agent sent, and the men handed over. With regard to
what you wrote about handing over fugitive criminals, on this matter a treaty
exists between Turkey and Persia, ard I am a Persian subject, and hereditary
warden of the frontier, and Your Excellency is no doubt aware of the Treaty.
Therefore, I and Your Excellency cannot give undertakings contrary to the
Treaty, but in view of the friendly relations that exist between us, in the past
and in the future in all matters relating to the prevention of trouble, in no way
has any fault been found, nor will be in the future.
No evil acts have hitherto been committed by my tribes in Turkish terri
tory. As far as possible I will make extreme efforts for the preservation of
peace and security there, and to that end l consider myself responsible.
And whenever you desire to conclude a personal agreement between us,
relating to the above treaty between the two Governments, I am at your
service.
MEMORANDUM.
The following memorandum is intended to supplement the documentary
narrative of the troubles which have recently arisen between the Sheikh of Moham-
merah and the Wali of Basrah, and to explain briefly the action of the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. vis
a vis the Sheikh of Mohammerah and His Majesty’s Consul at Basrah.
The first intimation that any trouble was likely was conveyed to me on
24th April by a copy of Mr. Crow’s despatch No 22 of 23rd April 1910, to His
Majesty’s Embassy, detailing an interview which he had had with the Wali, in
which the latter, after making a series of complaints against the Sheikh,
annunced his intention of sending the gunboat “ Marmaris ” to Zain to demons
trate, and, if necessary, punish Muhammad Chanan and his retainers. The
Wali further said that he intended to take strong action.
Remarking from this despatch that Mr. Crow had made no protest to the
Wali against his proposals, and had not considered the matter of sufficient
immeidate importance to justify a telegraphic report to Constantinople, I hurried
to Basrah forthwith (April 24th) to attempt to induce Mr. Crow to take action
to dissuade the Wali from carrying out his plans. It was, however, too late, as
the Walt had already sent the “ Marmaris ”, and, in any case, Mr. Crow seemed
disinclined to take action, and suggested that the Wali was not in earnest. I,
however, prevailed upon him to send a wire to Constantinople on the subject.
On my return to Mohammerah at midday, on April 25th, l found that the
‘‘Marmaris” had shelled and burnt Muhammad Chanan’s village an hour
previously. I at once proceeded to the spot with a representative of the Sheikh,
ascertained precisely what had occurred, telegraphed the facts to the Resident
at Bushire, and returned the same evening to Basrah to see Mr. Crow again and
inform him of what had occurred. Previous to going to Basrah, however, I
visited the Sheikh’s principal men in Mohammerah and warned them to do
nothing whatever, and to allow no reprisals pending orders from the Sheikh who
had proceeded to Ahwaz on 21st instant.
On arrival at Basrah, I found that Mr. Crow had heard nothing of what had
occurred at Zain, and he did not seem to appreciate the seriousness of the situa
tion that it created. In reply to my letters of 24th and 25th he answered, on the
27th, that the day of reckoning for the Sheikh had come, and that, though the
action of the Turks might be arbitrary, he would press for them to be supplied
with the proper means to carry it through. He, however, modified his attitude
to some extent, as, when he attended a reception by the Wali held on the
“ Marmaris”, he listened coldly to the Wali’s triumphant remarks on the subject