File 3443/1914 Pt 2 'German War: German emissaries to Afghanistan' [‎51r] (110/490)

Telegram P., No. 1897 B., dated the 11th (received 12th) September 1915.
From—The Hojj'ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Z. 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, r
The following telegram No. 330 F, has been received from His Maiesty’s
Representative at Tehran. J
Please refer to my telegram No. 328 F. At Enzeli 1,200 Russian troops
have been disembarked. What the full numbers of the force may eventually
be is not known by Russian Minister, as his telegrams have been received in a
very mutilated condition, but the troops are under the command of a General
Officer which appears to show that it will be considerable enough to restore
situation in Persia. In a telegram received from the Russian Minister for
Foreign Affairs the possibility of despatching troops to Ispahan is mentioned.
205
Telegram P., No. 3 F., dated (and received) the 12th September 1915.
From— Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. Haig, C.M.G., His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-
General and Agent to the Government of India in Khorasan, Meshed,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
German party in Herat. Please refer to my telegram No. 1 F. of the 3rd
instant.
The party was on 3rd instant still at Bagh-i-Shah but had been warned to
be ready to proceed on the 5th instant to Kabul. Places of interest and
shrines have been visited by the Germans under escort and it is said that they
have made plans but as they were not allowed to take photographs this may be
doubted. When received in durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). by Governor the Germans exhibited a
map and proclamation of jehad issued by Shiahs and Sunni Mullas and the
Sultan of Turkey and they promised assistance in the form of officers,
troops and arms assuring the Governor that Germany was prepared in return j
for her help to insist on the cession of Turkistan as far as Samarkand to j
Afghanistan and (of India ?) as far as Bombay. Very little impression seems
to have been made by these promises. Not much has been done by the
Germans to make themselves popular and by many they are owing to
information circulated in our interests regarded as fugitives. Their criticisms
of the armaments and troops of Afghanistan was not acceptable and
the commander of troops has declined to allow them to inspect the troops or to
receive a visit from them. They are well guarded, the Turks were refused
permission to recite Khutba and the party are not permitted to have free
intercourse with the populace. Unfortunately four or five of them have been
permitted by the Governor to return (see my telegram 21 F., dated Birjaud,
the 9th instant) and he has also permitted a small party of stragglers who
were detained at frontier to join them in Herat, but on the other hand he has
pending the receipt of orders from His Majesty the Amir detained at the
frontier a body of horse said to be about 200 strong and professing to be Turks.
The first party’s movements were it seems very likely known to the Gov
ernor, but in order that he might lay the blame on the commander of the
troops he took no steps in the matter while for having stopped the body of
men now on the border he will take all the credit.
Repeated to Birjand, Baluchistan, Tehran and addressed to Foreign.
206
Telegram P., No. 210 C., dated the 12th (received 13th) September 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and kain,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please refer to telegrams 119 and 120 F., from Tehran. After consulting
Colonel Wikely, who is Commanding at Sistanj Colonel Dale has leplied to