'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎136v] (277/488)

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PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTEATION REPORT
Major Haworth lays stress on the importance of clearly informing the
Persian Government of the exact position of affairs between us and Shaikh
Sir Khazal Khan, and the necessity under which we lie of seeing that His
Excellency's rights are respected.
Captain Grey gives an interesting account of the unsuccessful Bakhtiari
expedition against the Kuhgelu tribes, in
February, and shows how the result in
May was that the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Jang was eventually obliged to disburse a modified
** blackmail" in the shape of pay to Kuhgelu road guards, a temporary palliative,
very satisfactory for the Kuhgelu tribesmen and not unfavourable for trade
during the summer months. Time alone will show whether the criticisms of
the other Bakhtiari Chiefs who condemn this arrangement are well-
founded.
Much of the report is taken up with the dispute between the Shaikh of
Mohammerah and the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Jang over the Jarrahi lands. Actual fighting
was circumvented with difficulty, but a satisfactory settlement, which, it is
hoped, may prove lasting, was at last arrived at, in November, when the title
deeds of the lands in dispute were at length made over to Shaikh Khazal.
The work of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company proceeded satisfactorily in
this part of the country, and the relations between the Company and the
Bakhtiaris were excellent.
This Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. has seen a troubled year. The politics of the interior were
in a state of turmoil and a serious rising
as a ' of the tribes clouded the last few months
of the rule of His Highness Sir Saiyid Faisal bin Turki, G. C- I. E. The latter
died in the early days of Oatober after a reign of 25 years. His successor and
eldest son, Saiyid Taimur, came peaceably to power, on the 15th November,
and letters from the French and British Consuls, announcing his recognition as
Sultan by their respective Governments were presented to His Highness.
The Maskat Warehouse for the storage of arms and ammunition offered
for sale to the Omani public and other approved purchasers would appear, from
the figures g : vea by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , to have justified its existence. Two
notable figures of Maskat local celebrity, the arms trader Ali Musa Khan and
the Customs Superintendent, Abdul Karim have, at least temporarily, been
removed from Oman owing to the;r contravention of the regulations of this
useful institution.
Unfortunately there is little room for doubt that to the practical suppres
sion of the arms traffic is also due the formidable rising among the tribes that
has darkened Oman history during the year under report, and, but for British
support, would still some months later be a serious menace to the continued
existence of Maskat as the capital. The Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. report gives a full Mstory of
the rising, and it is not too much to say that it was only the timely arrival of
the 2nd llajputs under Lieut.-Colonel Smith, coupled with the strong support
of His Majesty's ships, in the early days of July, that saved the Sultanate.
Maskat indeed cannot be too grateful to Bushire for the prompt response to
His Highness's appeal for help, by which, within 3 days, the Eajput Wing was
landed ready for any work that they might be called on to do, at Mattra. On
Lieut.-Colonel Smith and his men fell the full brunt of preparing for the land
defence of Maskat and Mattra in the torrid heat of July and August and what
that means only those who have lived in Maskat really know. The conduct
of the troops, as indeed was only to be expected, and their relations with the
inhabitants have been excellent.
The end of the Abu Musa Oxide Case seems at last, after a lapse of 7
Abu Musa. years, within measurable distance of una
Oxide. solution. Messrs. Wonckhaus and Oo.
have agreed in principle to accept a lump sum down in settlement.
Figures have been put forward, through the German Embassy in London,
as a basis for estimating the compensation for the cancellation of the contrac,
after due examination, it is proposed to submit the figures, supplied by t e
firm, to an independent tribunal, possessing the business experience necessary
to fix the amount of compensation eventually to be paid.