File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎178r] (360/566)

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Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 27.)
(No. 4°2.)
Sir, |] Constantinople, June 21, 1910.
WITH reference to my telegram No. 109 ’ of the 10th instant, I have the honour
to forward herewith a despatch from His Majesty’s consul at Bussorah on the subject of
the dispute between the Turks and the Sheikh of Mohammerah.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Crow to Sir G. Lowther.
(No. 32.)
Sir, ^ Bussorah, May 28, 1910.
WITH reference to your Excellency’s telegram of the 26th May communicating to
me the Foreign Office telegram No. 113 to His Majesty’s representative at Tehran, I
have the honour to report that on the 20th May I wrote to the acting vali privately, and
suggested that some expression of regret should be made to the Sheikh of Mohammerah
for the death of his wife and the inadvertent attack on his mother’s house, and that some
reparation might be offered for the damage done to it I said I thought it would
disarm criticism if this were done, and I proffered the suggestion in the best interests
of the vali.
The acting yali communicated my letter to the vali. I have the honour to enclose
a copy of the vali’s reply as communicated to me by Saad Bey, and of my answer. The
vali no doubt desires to receive the sheikh’s reply to his letter before making any
advance, and he seems at present a little untractable, which is perhaps due to the
handsome ovation he received on his arrival at Bagdad and the congratulatory telegram
from Constantinople on his action at Zoin. But, if the sheikh answers in the way
proposed by the Foreign Office, I hope to be able to persuade him to meet us in the
matter.
I am informing the acting vali to-day of the lines on which His Majesty’s
Government hope to effect a reconciliation, as I gather from the vali’s telegraphic reply
that he is disposed to resent my intervention, and it may reassure him to know that
His Majesty’s Government are aware of his difficulties, and wish to give him reasonable
assistance.
I have, &c.
F.
E. CROW
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting Vali of Bussorah to Consul Crow.
Cher Mr. Crow, Bassova, le 26 mai, 1910.
JE vous demande pardon de vous faire attendre pour la reponse de votre estimee
portant la date du 20 courant et concernant le Cheikh de Mohammerah.
Son Excellence Nazif Bey dit que, n’existant aucun rapport entre le fait du
Gouvernement a Jvut-el-Zem et votre poste, il regrette beaucoup de ne pouvoir
accepter vos propositions. II ajoute que tant que le Cheikh Hazal continue de laisser
Mohammerah en son etat d’etre asile aux brigands et malfaiteurs, il ne pourra jamais
regagner la sympathie du Gouvernement ottoman, et que son Excellence est disposee
a repondre a la critique—presque impossible, d’ailleurs, pour un brigand comme
Mohammed-el-Chenan, qui est poursuivi actuellement par le parquet.
Agree z, &c.
A. SAAD.
[2781 dd—3]