File 3443/1914 Pt 2 'German War: German emissaries to Afghanistan' [‎62r] (132/490)

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Telegram P., No. 909 S., dated the 4th September 1915.
From—The Secretary to the Goverument of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To—His Pritannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and Kain (repeated to His Britannic
Majesty's Minister, Tehran).
Instructions are being conveyed by the military authorities to Colonel
Dale to the effect that he must on no account, without definite sanction, move
west of Khusp. It should be clearly understood that the object of sending
troop? to Sistan is merely to counteract the influence of the Germans and,
if possible, to intercept their parties where this can be dene with reason-
eble hope of success ; but that there must be no idea of attacking Persian
subjects who show sympathy for the Germans or Persian towns. By such
action a situation might arise with which our force would be quite
i nadequate to deal. At Tehran the situation is very critical, and if relations
are broken off with the Persian Government, the question of our future action
in Sistan will have to be very carefully considered. No action should there
fore in meantime be taken which is at all likely to provoke genral hostility.
Telegram P., dated the
175
6th (received 7th) September 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Situation at Ispahan. His Majesty's Consul-General has been informed by
the Officer Commanding Gendarmerie that agitation is becoming very serious
and that a plot is on foot to assassinate the Russian Consul Mr. Bristow and
himself and Managers of Russian and English Banks and that Gendarmerie
is powerless to stop the plot.
Telegram from Sheikh has been issued urging that the killing of Consuls
is of no use and that all Russians and British must he expelled.
A very strongly worded message has been sent by me to Prime Minister
holding him responsible personally for any harm that may occur to our
subjects.
176
Telegram P., No. 318 F., dated the 6th (received 7th) September 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 my telegram No. 316. In reply to request from Mullas of
Ispahau for instructions as to attitude which they should adopt towards agita
tion against us in that town, in connection with our occupation of B^re, I
have just learned that Prime Minister said that he was m eommumcation wiUi
British Legation, and that in a few days instructions would ^ ^ * he “-
This is tantamount to inyiting Mullas to continue agitation with object of
putting pressure on us. It appears to me, m fe circums ances, thaHor
Consul and Colony to remain longer at Ispahan is for the “ ‘ Bushire ques-
risk Even if we give way to Persian Government as regards Bushire ques
t on which I strongly deprecate, I doubt whether Persian authorities could
artek agitation: they certainly could not rtevcntGermansfrominst.gatmg
attemnts If on the other hand Consul and Colony at Ispahan leave, ana
prcTertfm is amoved, Germans may give up attempts having accomplised
part of their design. . . c 4 - „
His Maiestv’s Consul-General has been informed by me of nature of step
which Russiin Minister and I have submitted to our respective Governments
and I have told him that question of his departure will depend on the nature