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File 6/1912 Part 1 'Persia: Shiraz affairs; attack on Mr Smart; Swedish gendarmerie' [399r] (291/472)
The record is made up of 1 item (236 folios). It was created in Jan 1912-Jun 1912. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
[January 9.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
[1137] No. 1.
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 9.)
(No. 9.)
Sir, Constantinople, January 3, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a quarterly report on the affairs of the
Asiatic provinces of Turkey for the quarter ended the 31st December, 1911.
I have, &c.
GEEARD LOWTHER
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Quarterly Report on the Affairs of Syria.
Turco-Italian War.
In spite of inflammatory anti-Italian and sometimes anti-Christian articles in the
local newspapers, the news of the declaration of war was on the whole received with
comparative calm in Syria. In the early part of November, however, the exaggerated
reports in the press of Turkish victories caused a general feeling of uneasiness among
the Christian population, who feared that, in consequence of these reports, the Moslems
might be encouraged to rise against them. At Beirout there was a panic among the
Christians, many of whom left the town and fled inland. At Haiffa the situation was
serious enough, in the opinion of His Majesty’s consul at Jerusalem, to warrant the
dispatch of a British war-ship. Such a step, however, proved unnecessary, as the local
authorities in all parts of Syria did everything in their power to allay the apprehensions
of the Christian population and generally to maintain order.
During the latter part of November reports were received of a concentration at
Gaza of Turkish troops, whose object was presumably to attempt to cross through Egypt
into Tripoli.
Beirout Vilayet.
At the end of September Noureddin Bey resigned the post of Vali of Beirout on
the grounds of ill-health. His place was temporarily filled by General Hashim
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
pending the arrival from the Hedjaz of the new vali, Hazim Bey.
Damascus Vilayet: Hauran.
The Bedouins have in general been less turbulent, though excitement was caused
among the Buwela (a very important tribe of Aneyza Bedouins) by the arrest of Sheikh
Nouri Shaalan. The latter came to Damascus presumably to continue discussions with
Sami
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
, and was promptly arrested.
Engineers have been sent from Constantinople to survey a small branch of the
Hedjaz Railway to join Busr-Eski-Sham to Derna, as desired by Sami
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
.
Jerusalem Sanjah.
A quarrel has broken out between the Governor of Jerusalem, Djevdet Bey
(see last quarterly report), and the military commandant. His Majesty’s consul reports
that, whereas the latter is popularly supposed to be far from incorruptible, the former
is honest and straightforward and fair towards foreigners. This latter quality, indeed,
forms one of the charges brought against him by his enemies.
[2328 i—l]
B
About this item
- Content
Part 1 consists of correspondence relating to insecurity in southern Persia, particularly around Shiraz and along the Shiraz-Bushire roads. The papers tell of the British response to the situation, covering the following matters:
- the decision of whether to arm Shiraz or to evacuate the city;
- concern over Russia filling the gap left by the British were they to evacuate;
- the situation on the ground, conveyed in several reports;
- the proposal to occupy Bushire with a battalion and to subsidize local chiefs to maintain the roads;
- the Persian Government plan to employ Swedish officers to command and train a gendarmerie along some of the roads;
- British claims for reparation from the Persian Government following an attack on the Shiraz Consul, Mr Smart, and his escort;
- the question of providing winter quarters for Indian troops in Shiraz should they have remain there for the season.
The discussion over such matters is mostly between the Foreign Office, 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. , War Office, Government of India, and Minister at Tehran. Further correspondence, included as enclosures, is from Percy Zachariah Cox, 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. .
Included is memorandum on the situation in Southern Persia by J E F, Political Department, 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. , 16 February 1912.
- Extent and format
- 1 item (236 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front.
The subject 6 (Persia) consists of this one volume. The volume is divided into two parts.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 6/1912 Part 1 'Persia: Shiraz affairs; attack on Mr Smart; Swedish gendarmerie' [399r] (291/472), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/197/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028474501.0x000003> [accessed 29 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/197/1
- Title
- File 6/1912 Part 1 'Persia: Shiraz affairs; attack on Mr Smart; Swedish gendarmerie'
- Pages
- 254r:289v, 290v:305v, 306v:446v, 447v:489v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence