File 6/1912 Part 1 'Persia: Shiraz affairs; attack on Mr Smart; Swedish gendarmerie' [‎450r] (393/472)

FOREIGN SECRET TELEGRAMS.
Secret Department.
Erom Viceroy, l\th January 1912.
„„ Secret - We tav® received no further information from Minister
force cLceme7' e T nSlb rV’ n r a ‘n Ck l,pou Smart and composition of the
rX is 1 e,e thot X X “ WOU i d from P a P e ^ received by Cox.
he mr of dkcnnm t 1 Was . more ^ a local ebullition of resentment on
‘tie part of discontented road guards and was partly due to anneals from
noHb 7 ot , Mes °P° taima t0 Chiefs of Ears, referring to Russian action in the
noith and calling on them to oppose similar action by us in the south.
has iX "iXXXXV^i* Wh n a f ter °? mmercia l researches at Shiraz
tXJ rehnned to Bushire through the winter quarters of the Kashgai
ment bv triMCV f a r<l, 0 X e f ° f X Kesldenc y extremely friendly treat-
e it b} tubal Chiefs. Chick states, however, that owing to attitude towards
suDDO^^orTCw 8111 ^ 2 i G ° nSula . te ha n 0 4 late been driven iu connection with
PI . Ciuam and vagaries of, iSizam-es-Sultaneh, the tribal Chiefs
Wr 011 bT e( i that lf T } \ Bn \ ish tro °P s en fer Fars their first objective will be
o crush Xashgais and that latter will certainly fight in consequence and
could probably put 7,000 or 8,000 well armed ml in the field HavS
wWcbfbln 6 U 1 lgeI | lt “ ec ? Bslt y of avoiding very extensive military operations
which might clearly be forced upon us, Cox expresses the view? based on a
sofuS'of f tb° m Bl ’ ?°fV n j 01131 '? 6 , at . dlushire, that it is still conceivable a
solution of the present difficulty might be found by reversion to former idea
lnt0 dlre ^ relations with tribal Chiefs for the preservation of
oidev on the load. We should send a regiments (sic) of Native Infantry to
Bushire and then explain to the Chiefs concerned that we have no designs
against any of them, that we are extremely anxious to avoid intervention
t aB we cannot tolerate these outrages, but before resorting to extensive
military operations we offer them the opportunity to give us satisfaction for
i ecent outrages and to enter into a direct compact with us for maintenance
oi security on the road, a matter in which their interests (? are) as much as
ours. Suggestion is that Chiefs concerned should be subsidised by us and
m return would keep up guards on a regular roster and regular pay a
special Assistant to the Resident being appointed to supervise arrangements
something on the lines of Political Officer in the Khyber.
Neither Cox nor we have had time to think out details and all pros and
cons of scheme, but we are of opinion that, primd facie, proposal offers a
possible means of satisfying our interests without extensive military opera
tions and would at the same time demonstrate to the public in India and
Southern I ersia the bond fides of our desire to do all that is possible to avoid
intervention.
A fuithei communication will be sent after full examination of scheme.