‘Letter from Lt-Col Sir A.T. Wilson, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., C.M.G., D.S.O., Officiating Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political Department, Simla.’ [‎2r] (3/4)

The Ruling Chiefs and Governments concerned are therefore directly interested
in the maintenance of the Company's operations at full efficiency.
17. Amongst the common people the Company enjoys a good reputation,
particularly amongst the Bakhtiari, where they are regarded as the friend of the
people and benefactors of the tribe?. They are also looked upon favourably, to the
best of my belief, by the Arab population of Mohammerah and Abadan. In Arabistan
itself they are in less close touch with the Arab population than might be desired, not
through any fault of their own, but because the Arab has an invincible distaste for
steady and laborious though remunerative work such as that offered by the Anglo-
Persian Oil Company, and his place has been taken by Persians imported from the
north.
IS. The local position is therefore satisfactory, and there is no present reason to
anticipate that it will become less so; on the other hand, we know by bitter
experience that where foreigners and foreign interests are concerned, public opinion
amongst a savage people is apt to change suddenly and the people at large are liable
to act in a manner wholly contrary to their own interests and to what may reasonably
be believed to be their private and personal feelings when their religious prejudices
-and fears are invoked by stupiil or malicious priests or chiefs.
This is much less the case amongst the Hakhtiari than anywhere else, and
1 do not consider that it is necessary for the present to make plans for the military
protection of the Hakhtiari oilfield ; but in Arabistan the case is different. The
population are bigoted Shiah Arabs, who in 1915, notwithstanding the influence
possessed over them by the Shaikh of Mohammerah, cheerfully took up arms when the
•cry of Jehad was raised by the Turks, and seceded on all sides from the Shaikh of
Mohammerah, leaving him with only one or two powerful tribes on whom he could
rely, and these tribes were not sufficiently well armed to be in a position to do much
against the rebellious elements,'nor was the Shaikh of Mohammerah in a position to
supply the deficiency.
The arrival of a small British force at Ahwaz in 1915 successfully stabilised the
.situation, and the Shaikh had little difficulty in bringing his rebellious tribesmen to
heel, and in point of fact his position is more satisfactory now and his control is more
-complete than at any time for the past 10 years.
Should, however, further unfavourable developments occur in Arabistan, it is
not improbable that we should witness a recurrence of the troubles that occurred in
1915.
19. 1 venture to suggest that, having regard to the importance of the general
question of the defence oi the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's installations, the
■whole question as to how this can best be done from a military point of view should
be specifically reviewed, a military officer being specially sent to Arabistan to
investigate the question. In the hope that this may be done, 1 beg to put forward
the following proposals :—
(1) Blockhouses to be erected by the Company, at their own expense, round all
installations which are already fenced in, at suitable intervals, and round Abadan.
If this was done 1 am of the opinion that one company could adequately protect the
vulnerable and delicate machinery at these stations 1 and the lives of the Europeans
-against all probable attacks. Abadan would probably require a regiment to do this
effectively, but Abadan would be the last place to be affected, and reinforcements
would by that time have arrived.
(2) Accommodation for troops to be built by the Company at suitable places in
each pumping station ; such accommodation could be utilised in time of peace by the
Company's local workmen and in time of disturbance by the garrison, it' sent.
(3) A brigade of infantry and a cavalry regiment may be regarded, with a
battery of mountain artillery, as an adequate force to be despatched to Arabistan in
the event of trouble.
(4) A permanent garrison of one battalion of Indian infantry to be maintained
in the future at Ahwaz on the left bank in lines surrounded by unclimbable fencing
on a site to be selected near the Karun.
2U. It is for consideration whether the cost of the construction of these lines and
the cost of maintaining the troops should not be debited to the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company. 1 cannot doubt that it would be in their interests to accept such a debit,
but if they are asked to pay they would naturally expect to be consulted as to the
1 TembifDiin-a Klmsiua, Mulla Sani. Kut Abdullah, Dere Kwaiu.