'Administration Reports 1920-1924' [‎153r] (310/412)

PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDE IT CY, 1923.
57
In the jneantime 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. Sipah had been encouraging the separatist ten
dencies ot the Oliahar Lang sections of the Bakhtiari tribes by allowing them to
nommate their own tiibai governors and by placing them directly under the
control of the Governor General of Isfahan. This was a severe blow to the
prestige of the Illkhani and Jilbegi of -Bakhtiari. Those appointments had been
bestowed on 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. Mohtasham and Amir Jang at the end of May but at the
end of August they informed 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. Sipah that they could not continue to
hold office unless the Chahar Lang tribes were again placed under their control
It was therefore arranged that Amir Jang should meet the Ohahar Lang Chiefs
in Isfahan and endeavour to reach a settlement through the mediation of the
(rovernor GeneraL The attempt was unsuccessful and the complete separation
of the Northern Chahar Lang Section (the Mahmoud Salihi) gradually became
an accepted fact. ^ The status of the Southern section (the Kuinarsi tribes of
Janeki) still remained doubtful at the close of the year. Laying claim to the
whole of Southern Bakhtiari including the Malamir plain and the Oilfields area
the Janeki Khans could, if freed from the control of the Bakhtiari Governors
and supported by the Central Government, make the position of the Bakhtiari
Illkhani and Illbegi intolerable. The authority of the latter in the south would
be completely undermined and only a representative of the Persian Government
supported by troops could then hope to keep the peace among the mutually
hostile tribal units to the North and North-East of the Oilfields. No doubt
this is what the Central Government is trying to bring about but in the meantime
the position is ono of great difficulty for the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
Urgent representations made by His Britannic Majesty's Minister to 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.
Sipah both before and after the former's visit to Arabfstan in October have
elicited from 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. Sipah little beyond a declaration that the operations of the
Conmanv will not be allowed to suffer bv any alteration in the status quo.
Dizful and 57ms7?iar—There have been radical changes in this district since
the last annual report was w r ritten. The Vice-Consul at Dizful transferred his
headquarters to Shushtar in March, the Shushtar Consular Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. "being
abolishoi as from March 31st. The Vice-Consulate itself was abolished in
December 1923, the post having remained vacant since the previous May.
In proposing the transfer of the British representative from Dizful to
Shushtar and his subsequent withdrawal from Shushtar also Mr. Peel wrote
as follows in January 1923 ;—
" So long as the Central Government in Tehran remained impotent
the interposition of the neutral zone of Dizful and Shushtar between the
territories of the Bakhtiari Khans and the Sheikh of Mohammerah served
to minimise causes oi inction between the rival chiefs with beneficial results
to Arabistan generally. A forward policy oh the part of the Persian Gov-
ernfnent naturally draws these parties together with a view to protecting
their common interests and renders the position of any British represen
tative one of extraordinary difficulty in attempting to reconcile the oppos
ing views of the Persian Government's representative .and the powerful
chiefs whose territories lie to the north and south.. The position is rendered
still more difficult by the fact that our Consular representative at Dizful
was until a year and a half ago the ck facto Governor of that district. In
view of the present political situation in Persia I have.no doubt that the
wiser course is to eliminate the British representative at Dizful and allow
the three opposing forces in Northern Arabistan namely the Persian Gov-
ernment, the Bakhtiari Khans and the Sheikh of Mohammorah to work out
their proper equilibrium without aid or hindrance from us British
Political interests in the Dizful area are in the nature of a 4 damnosa
haereditas ' and no time should be lost whether on political or economic
grounds in closing down the Dizful Vice-Consulate."
The event has fully justified this decision. His Excellency Mushar-ud-
Bowleh who had lived on the bwt of terms with the Sheikh of Mohammerah,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul and the local people resigned in October and
shortly afterwards the long advertised Arabistan detachment consisting of 250
Persian troops under command of Colonel Baqir Khan marched into Shushtar
and occupied the Government buildings which had just been vacated by the
retiring Governor-General. Moayyed-ed-Dauleh (not the individual of the same
name who herld the post in 1922) arrived in November as Governor General but is
little Tnoro than a cypher, all real power being concentrated in the hands of
Colonel Baqir Khan. The behaviour of the troops has been excellent and the
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