'File 3/7 PIRACY in the Persian Gulf.' [‎49r] (97/176)

British Consulate y
Kho r ram shah r.
flo.28-T. 2nd February, 1945.
Sir, *
I have the honour to state that daring the past few
months I have received a number of complaints regarding
piracy at the mouth of the Shatt-al-Arab. Many of these have
Affected Koweiti boats and in nearly all cases it is complained
that the assailants come from the northern part of Abadan
Island, in the vicinity of Gusba.
As the incidents have occurred I have brought them to
the notice of the Military Governor of Abadan and urged him
to take the necessary steps to arrest the culprits and insure
that the incidents do not recur. The problem is, however,
complicated by the fact that firstly, patrolling of the bhatt-
al-Arab is maintained by the Iraqi Government}, secondly,
the Military Governor acknowledges that the Sheikhs in the
more remote parts of the Island are out of hand and maintains
that the only way of regaining control over them is to station
a small permanent military garrison in the area.
So far as patrolling the Shatt-al-Arab is concerned
I understand that the matter has been represented to the Iraqi
Government by Hie Majesty*s Ambassador in Baghdad. The
question of despatching troops to the northern part of the
Island is however one which affects the British Military
authorities, who have stated,most definitely, that they are
unwilling to permit a Persian garrison on the Island.
I am however inclined to agree with the Military
- Governor that unless he can have a small garrison of Persian
soldiers, at least in the northern part of the Island, it is
impossible for him to control adequately the Sheikhs of this
area who are becoming increasingly more turbulent. There is
admittedly a small gendarmerie detachment in the area, but
the total number of gendarmes available for the whole of
Abadan is only sixty, and of these, I understand some twenty-
five will shortly be allocated for duty with the security
authorities of the British, Army.
Steps are also being taken to disarm the tribes in the
Khorramshahr-Abadan district but for the time being at least
this disarmament plan only affects Abadan Island to the
extent that the Persian military authorities ere permitted
to send individual officers to summon Sheikhs to surrender
their arms. If this fails to achieve any reasonable success
the Persians may be permitted, at a later date, to despatch
flying columns across the Bahamshir into the area. Ahen this
happens it may be possible to reduce to some extent these
piracies. I do not consider however that they will ever be
completely suppressed unless the Persians are permitted a
certain freedom to maintain*and operate a small permanent
garrison in the area. I strongly recommend for Your Bxcellency’i
His Excellency Sir Reader W. Bullard, KCB., KCMG., C1E.,
His Majesty's Ambassador, TEHRAIL