File 6/1912 Part 1 'Persia: Shiraz affairs; attack on Mr Smart; Swedish gendarmerie' [‎360v] (214/472)

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12
battalions of infantry and mountain guns would be
required. , ,
On the 30th December Sir G. Barclay repeated
a telegram from the Consular Oflicer at Shiraz
(Mr. Knox) expressing the view that unless an
adequate punitive expedition were shortly des
patched Fars would have to be evacuated altogether,
and that even evacuation could not be carried out
without strong reinforcements by which British
subjects might be escorted to the coast. Mr. Knox
added that Mr. Smart also agreed in the necessity
of a punitive expedition.
19. The Government of India, on being asked
their views by the Secretary of State on the pro
posal to send a battalion and battery to Shiraz,
were averse from that course on the ground of
the risks involved. Instead, they recommended
the landing at Bushire of a battalion of infantry to
hold the town in pledge, the retention of the customs,
and a blockade of the coast, which would prevent
the tribesmen from obtaining ammunition.
They at the same time pointed out that, apart
from the question of a punitive expedition, it
might become necessary to effect the relief of the
detachment of cavalry at Shiraz, for which a force
would be required of at least 5.000 men, viz. :—
Infantry - - 4 regiments.
Cavalry - - - 1 regiment.
Mountain batteries - 2.
They considered that, if such a force had to be
sent, it should bring away with the least possible
delay the cavalry detachments at Shiraz and
Ispahan, the members of the Consulate, and any
British subjects who might be willing to leave.
In a leiter to the Foreign Office, dated the 1st
January 1912, 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. agreed as to the
inadvisability of sending only a battalion and battery
to Shiraz, but, regarding the urgency of relieving
Shiraz as the keynote of the situation, commented
adversely on the proposals of the Government of
India which would entail its postponement, involve
the holding of Bushire for a considerable time, and
leave open the neutral sphere to the intervention of
Russia. The letter put forward the alternative
course of immediate occupation in force of Shiraz,
with effective control of the road to Bushire,
suggesting at the same time that the whole of the
cost should be borne by the British Exchequer.
20. On the 5th January, Sir E. Grey informed Sir
G. Barclay of 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. views, and expressed
a preference for the despatch of a sufficient force to
ensure the safe evacuation of Shiraz, as well as of
other places inland, if necessary. He proposed
holding at the same time Bushire and Bunder
Abbas, and obtaining in the meanwhile an agree
ment from Russia not to intervene in the neutral
zone.
On the same day, Sir G. Barclay repeated a
telegram in which Mr. Knox expressed the opinion
Sir G. Barclay’s
30th December 1911.
telegram No. 772,
Views of the Government of India
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. .
Viceroy’s Telegram 30th December
1911.
Pol. 2039/11.
Letter of 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. to Foreign Office
1st January 1912.
View of the Foreign Office.
Sir E. Grey's Telegram No. 13,
January 1912.
5tb
Sir G. Barclay's Telegram No. 20, 5th
January 1912.