'A précis of the Relations of the British Government with the Tribes and Shaikhs of Arabistan. By Lt A T Wilson, Acting Consul for Arabistan' [‎38] (52/134)

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liim, so far as tliey concerned the break up of Persia, or the intervention of
foreign powers, but that he would require some definite reply as to whether
the guarantees already given him included protection on his rights by a
possible constitutional regime, and also in regard to an extension of existing
guarantee to his immediate offspring.
•, re P^ Major Cox was instructed to inform the Shaikh that His
Majesty's Government were prepared to give him the same support against
encroachments on his rights as was promised in 1902, whatever change of
Government there might be in Persia. He was also to be reminded that the
n^urances of His Majesty's Government had already been extended to his
successors, and as these would presumably be his offspring, the assurances
f.id m fact already apply to them. If, however, this did not satisfy the
bhaikh, there was no objection to extending the guarantee already given to
his heirs and successors." The 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.
having communicated these assurances, the Shaikh further requested—
(1) that the words " his own successive male descendants " might be
substituted for " heirs and successors " and he
(2) also expressed the hope that His Majesty's Government wculd
dispel the last shadow of doubt from his mind regarding their
intentions in the future by adding after the words " male des
cendants " the words " up to a period of 100 years " or 150 if
possible.
, The 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. promised to mention these points to His Majes-
ty s Minister, whom he hoped .shortly to meet, as also the Shaikh's requests
(3) an assurance for protection for his private property in Persia,
(4) an assurance of protection against molestation by foreign powers,
and against any encroachment by such power on his jurisdic
tion and recognised rights,
(5) an undertaking that, if circumstances compelled His Majesty's
Government to assume control of the Customs of Southern Per
sia, including those of Mohammerah and Ahwaz, he will be
left in immediate control of those ports as at present,
(6) an undertaking that if circumstances compelled His Majesty's
Government to intervene in Southern Persia he and his tribes
men may be maintained in their present position, or if that is
impossible, he may retain his personal revenues, and be granted
an asylum in India or elsewhere,
(') ^ C0 Py the assurances in a form w 7 hich he could show to his
tribesmen to strengthen their support of himself, and their
l)clicf in the friendly policy of His Majesty's Government.
At this juncture. Major Cox proceeded on leave to England. From
London he went on to Tehran to confer with His Majesty's Minister, and
both in London and in 1 ehran the question of the assurances which the Shaikh
desired were exhaustively discussed. After further protracted examination
of the question at lehriln, on the occasion of Major Cox's visit there, and
between the Foreign Office and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , the assurances in their revised
form, were finally approved and the text forwarded to Colonel Cox in August
191 ?; TJ ] ? e wa . s instructed, however, not to communicate them to the Shaikh,
until His Majesty's Government had examined the merits of the case of the
Wah of Basrah against the Shaikh in the matter of the allegations against
the latter which had culminated in the shelling and burning of the village
of Zain by the Turkish gunboat Marmaris." This question is dealt with
under the heading The Shaikh and the Turks " (Chapter 9) and need not be
further referred to here.
His Majesty's Government having concluded the examination of the
papers in this case and having satisfied themselves that the Shaikh had acted
properly in the matter and that the general allegations against him were
unfounded authorised Lieutenant-Colonel Cox to communicate the revised as
surances to the Shaikh. The latter's request for a time limit had been nega
tived and the application of the assurances to the male descendants were
granted only so long as the latter fulfilled their obligations to His Majesty's