File 1421/1908 Pt 2 'Persia: oil; Ahwaz oil guard' [‎200r] (403/482)

This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36777]
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"o'\ v "vti/ k j [November 21.]
n. \' v y
No. 1 .
Foreign Office to Treasury.
Section 4.
J^£> £>y .
S J
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Foreign Office, November 21, 1907.
I LAID before Secretary Sir E. Grey your letter of the^oth instant relative
to the proposed increase of the Consular guards at Ispahan and Ahwaz.
With regard to Ispahan, I am to state, for the information of the Lords Commis
sioners of His Majesty s Treasury, that Sir E. Grey considers the proposed increase to
he necessary for the protection of the Consulate and Consular staff, and that, in view
of the fact that their Lordships sanction the proposal subject to this condition, he has
requested the Secretary of State for India to take the necessary steps to send the
reinforcements.
# With regard to Ahwaz, I am to transmit copies of further telegrams from His
Majesty’s Consul at that place showing that the proposed increase is urgently
required.*
I am also to inclose copy of a further letter from 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. ,! from which
it will be seen that the Government of India now propose to send an infantry guard
with eight mounted men instead of cavalry, which would reduce the expenditure from
533/. 6 s. 8 cZ. to 266/. 13s. 4d. initial, and from 1,920/. per annum to 1,824/. per annum
recurring.
Sir E. Grey has throughout the present disturbed state of affairs in Persia declined
to adopt the policy of sending expeditions inland for the protection of British subjects,
and has caused the latter to be warned that in case of danger they must proceed to
the coast.
It is not denied that the principal object of increasing the Ahwaz guard is to
protect the lives of the employes and the property of the Oil Syndicate, but the case
appears to Sir E. Grey to be exceptional.
Ahwaz is easily accessible from the river, and a small expenditure, half of which
will be borne by the Government of India, will, it is hoped, prevent the total abandon
ment of an important British enterprise, with the great loss of British prestige
throughout Persia which it would entail.
In view of the above considerations, I am to express the earnest hope that their
Lordships will reconsider their decision and sanction half the expenditure incurred in
the dispatch of the guards and their maintenance for a period of six months.
I am, &c.
(Signed) LOUIS MALLET.
* Mr. Marling, Nos. 342, 344, and 346, Telegraphic.
f 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. , November 12, 1907.