File 3443/1914 Pt 2 'German War: German emissaries to Afghanistan' [‎140r] (289/490)

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Telegram V., No. 1398 B., dated the Uth (received loth) July 1915.
From— r lhe IIon’ble Lieotenant-Colovel Sir Percy 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
Attack which was recently made on ns at Bushire and which has been
long expected and planned, and of which the Persian Government since the
time of Listeman s arrest, has had full warning, is indistinguishable from
an act of war; hut I know that the policy of His Majesty’s Government
is not to treat it as such. I venture however as 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 to urge that v'e should make prompt use of incident both to oblige Persian
Government to adopt a really neutral demeanour and to get them to° abandon
their present attitude of veiled hostility, and also to institute active measures
on our part for preservation in Pars and elsewhere of those interests which
Persian Government is unw illing or unable to protect. In the former direction
I v'ould urge that we present an ultimatum to the Government of Persia based
on following lines :—
(1) That the present Governor-General of Pars should be recalled at
once and his recall made public by announcement.
(2) That forthwith the gendarmes in Pars should be recalled to their
duties on the road and that they should be withdrawn altogether
from Bushire-Borasjun section which should be handed over to
the charge of the Governor of Bushire, who will maintain a
guard from funds to be drawn from Bushire custom house under
our supervision.
(3) Arrest or recall of all Germans in Pars.
(i) Deposition and proclamation as outlaws of following local Khans,
viz., Rais Ali, Dilwari; Zair Takly of Tangistan; Sheikh Hussein
of Chahkutah, and his son Mahomet, who have been concerned
in the recent attack on Bushire; and removal of Ghazanfar-us-
Saltaneh of Borasjun and his replacement by a nominee who
will be agreeable to us; and expulsion from Pars of Saiyid
Murteza, the hero of the disturbances of 1909 and who is now
concerned with the above persons.
In the event of Persian Government failing to accept these terms within
48 hours and failing execution within 10 days, we should, pending compliance
with above ultimatum, assume control over the custom house at Bushire, hold
revenue, and disallow the despatch of merchandise inland. If military resources
admit of it, as Resident I would further recommend that w r e should send an
armed reconnaissance to raze the towers of the Khan of Chahkutah (and his ?)
son at Ahmadi and of the Khan of Borasjun at Lorasjun, w r e should also
bombard the town of Dilwari from the sea as has been done before.
If we were to take this action and were to warn friendly Khans of our
ntentions, I am confident latter wmuld of themsei\es co-operate in tie
nterests of law and order and settle affairs in the Bushire hinteiland in a
ray which would be conducive to the future interests of His Majesty s
Government. In fact they have repeatedly made offers to do so.
It does not seem to me as a layman that, for the occupation of the Bushiie
ustom house and action above recommended, garrison would need to De m-
reased temporarily by more than two regiments, one mountain battery, and
w'o squadrons of cavalry. It would be necessary to have a man-of-war conti
nually present.
As regards Germans, it is shown by experience that all rascally eiements
a the Busbire hinterland are in favour of the German faction, and, so tar,
tier of bribes, no matter how great the amounts, has produced no results.
Mure of the attack on Bushire, it is possible, may, however, alter the * tua
ion, and it is also possible that, as has happened on the Tigris, some ot their
ecent friends may now be ready to turn on the Germans.
Repeated to Bushire; for repetition to Consul, Shiraz, and to His Britannic
lajesty’s Minister, Tehran.