File 3516/1914 Pt 6 'German War: Persia; general situation May-July 1915' [‎56v] (117/484)

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A certain Saiyid has been openly preaching jehad, expulsion of foreigners, &c.,
to large crowds, for the last, three evenings, in road between Consulate and city,
and in spite of ray official remonstrances, Governor-General has done nothing
to stop him. Our employes are being threatened and terrorised and general
situation is becoming very strained.
Kawam is fully prepared to take steps to maintain order, on receipt of
formal instructions from Tehran, and I venture to hope that Your Excellency
will be able to arrange this.
French and Russian Consular Agents and Armenian community keep
urging me to impress on Your Excellency urgent necessity for this measure.
Addressed to Tehran; repeated to Basrah and Bushire.
Telegram P., No. 51, dated the 17th (received 18th) May 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please refer to Cox’s telegrams, 1081 to 1086 B. and your telegram, No. 118.
I do not think that I could offer any useful observations on Cox’s in
dividual suggestions, as he is so much more intimately acquainted with affairs
(of) districts in question, but I would like it to be understood that I fully
concur (in) views expressed by Government of India in their telegram No. 493 ,
dated 15th May, that as a general line of conduct it will (be) more prudent to
bind ourselves by promises and assurances for future as little (as) possible and
to rely on subsidiary secret service funds in case (of) need.
Telegram, No. 1131 B., dated (and received) the 18th May 1915.
From—The Hon’blb Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Peecy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.,
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Following from Shiraz, dated 16th:— Begins. Signaller, Kazerun,
reported yesterday that Hussain Beg of Konar Takhteh had arrived at
Kamarij with 200 tufangehis and that fighting was going on between him and
Kalantur of Kamarij. Ends.
Second telegram, dated 17th :— Begins. Fighting still continues ; several
Konar Takhteh men have been killed. Affair does not seem very serious at
present, but road is temporarily rendered unsafe.
Captain Oertengren is on his way hack to Shiraz with gendarmerie ex
pedition, Ends,
Telegram P., No. S. 500, dated the 19th May 1915.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla,
To—His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, London (repeated to Tehran,
and Basrah).
Persian situation. .Please see my telegram, dated 15th May, and Sir
Percy Cox’s telegram, No. 1084 B., dated 12th May.
Government of India are of opinion that any negotiations with Mekran
Chiefs in view of improved position at Tehran would for the present be
premature. In any case, they do not want to pledge themselves to such
persons as Mir Barkat or 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. Saiyid Khan, except in case of absolute
necessity. In event of rupture with Persia, the Chiefs of Mekran should be
advised generally that those Chiefs will be duly rewarded who stand by us in
maintaining peace and order but it should be left to Chiefs themselves, so far
as possible, to make definite overtures.
With reference to telegram No. 1085 B. of 12th May from Sir P. Cox,
it would be a mistake for His Majesty’s Government to commit themselves to
the Vali of Pusht-i-Kuh at present, as he has shown himself quite unreliable.
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