'File 26/185 V (F 96) Shaikh of Mohammerah' [‎135r] (277/472)

SSCUST.
No. C/66.
The PDlitical Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
Kuwait.
Dated the 3rd February, 1946.
The Hon 1 ble the POlitioal Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , 3U3111 RE.
Subject Shaikh Abdullah Khaz t
BUSHIPF. ^ —
A'c ■3°/
Date...
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose a translation of a letter
received from Shaikh Abdullah Khaz'al requesting instructions
as to his future actions.
2. He has verbally stated
(a) That he will carry on no political activity while in
Kuwait.
(b) That if granted an amnesty and permission to live on
his property in Iran he will assist the Persian GrOvernment in
every way provided it does not come under Oommunist control.
He points out that, when tribes such as the ^ashgai who were
persistently anti-British during the war have succeeded in
regaining their "rights", it is an anomoly that the family of
ShaiKh Khaz T al who have always been our friends should not have
regained theirs.
(c) That he has now no property left in T Iraq and that he is
prepared to die fighting for his rights rather than to continue
his present existence. He appears to oe under the impression
that with 500 rifles and the support of the divines of Nejef
he could establish the independence of Khuziztan^and maintain
it against the Persian Government and army, provided there was
no hostile interference from British forces.
(d) That if his return to Khuziztan is forbidden by us and
he is required to reside elsewhere than in Kuwait or in Saudi
Arabia he must either have a stipend from the income of his
family estates or be reduced to beggary.
3. The back^ound to his excapade appears to have been as follows;
He visited Nejef and consulted the Shia' religious leaders, in
particular Shaikh Abdul Karim Zanjani, and found them concerned
over the future of their faith in Iran in view of^Communist
influences and the new Kisrowi religion. I^surmise that they
refused to proclaim .1ehad but suggested to him that, if he could
take ijd residence in Khuziztan and form a focus for local .eel-
in^ they were prepared to accord him their backing at the appro
priate time. This accords with an approach previously made to
this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. by a Shia* divine here on the lines ^that *he Arabo
of Khuziztan would welcome independence of Persia am affiliation
with India under British protection.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most Qj>fedient servant.
LB.
Major
litacal Agent,
KUWAIT.