File 3516/1914 Pt 8 'German War: Persia' [‎44v] (93/434)

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that there is an alleged agreement between Bahhtian and Kushgai winch
amounts to a plot for the overthrow of Government finances and fin* Persia to
he partitioned between Kashgai and Bakhtian who are to be armed from
German sources. Idea of such a combination in normal times would be
amusing but in actual circumstances it must not be forgotten that moral elfect
on Bakhtiari and Soulet and Kawam, respectively, likely to be increased by f ^
presence of large numbers of well equipped Germans in open defiance of
Persian Government, of Eussians and of ourselves at Ispahan and Shiraz,
must be serious and with inducements offered to them for the time tribea
may sink their differences and such a combination even if only of a temporary
nature, under German guidance, might well give .enemy the chance they
are waiting for.
At present Bakhtiaris are at loggerheads with each other over various
duties and I propose to paralyse tribe as a whole by keeping them so, but it is
quite within the bounds of possibility that influences of Germans at Ispahan,
where most Khans are collected, may help to prevent their differences from
coming to a head. It seems to me in any case that more than this is required
of us. As far as its local effect goes, our occupation of Bushire seems to be
falling flat and unless something (?) is done by us in way of a punitive expedb
tion against those Khans who are responsible for the Bushire outrage, which
will strike at the heart of Persian imagination and disillusion them as to sup
posed impotence of His Majesty’s Government, I apprehend a very dangerous
situation may arise in the Province of Pars and south-west of Persia generally.
It is absolutely necessary at the same time that impression which will be
produced by probable fall of Warsaw to German forces should be counteracted
by appearance at Kazvin, at earliest possible moment, of promised Russian
troops.
Mustaufi-ul-Mamalik is using his efforts to form a Cabinet Council, but
even were he to succeed in filling the various appointments, combination
would be too much under democratic influence and too weak to be of any use
(to us ?) in counteracting machipations of Germans.
Addressed to foreign Office 5 sent to India, Ispahan, Basrah, Petrograd
and Bushire.
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Telegram R., No. 387 C., dated (and received) the 7th August 1915.
From— Major A. P. Trevor, C.I.E., Officer on Special Duty in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Urgent. A fairly strong raiding party, having apparently slipped between
our posts eight and nine on Mashileh, made a strong attack at about midnight
last night on a house behind used as a signalling station apparently with a view
to capturing or killing British officer who lives there. Attempt was unsuccess
ful and party withdrew about 2 a.m.
Addressed Tehran; repeated to Basrah, Shiraz, Poreign.
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Telegram R,, No, 1569 B., dated (and received) the 7th August 1915.
From—The Hobble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.Sl,
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.
Eeference Bushire telegram No. 377 C.
aotivTtiw of pro^Germa^eLments^' ° £ ^ ^ ^