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File 3280/1913 'Persia: Bushire-Shiraz road; Swedish gendarmerie; conditions on the Bushire-Shiraz road; tours of Shiraz consul' [‎78v] (161/332)

The record is made up of 1 volume (162 folios). It was created in 8 Aug 1913-23 Feb 1915. It was written in English. 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. .

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104 .
tribes in order. Opinions may, no doubt, vary on this point, but I venture
to express my personal belief that no great difficulty would be found in effecting
the desired change, or in maintaining the authority of the new Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. . As
already remarked above, the present hereditary Ilkhanis maintain their position
and some show of authority rather by diplomacy and intrigue, and by the
judicious balancing of one set of Kalantars against another, than by any
inherent prestige due to their family influence or traditions. Whichever of
the brothers is in power, there is always a section of the tribes which is
opposed to him, and which is ready to intrigue, and if necessary to fight,
against him. When conversing with some of the discontented Kalantars at
Shiraz a short time ago, I asked them point-blank whom they wanted as
Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. . They replied that they did not really care very much who it was so
long as they were freed from the oppression of the Sowlet-ed-Dowleh; and they
declared themselves perfectly ready to accept and obey any Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. nominated
by the Persian Government from outside the tribe altogether. And I imagine
that a similar reply would at any time be given by some sections of the
tribe whichever of the present Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. family happened to be in power for the
time being.
But apart from the sentiments of the Kalantars and of the tribesmen them
selves in the matter, the fact that the Persian Government now possesses a
regular force in Ears in the shape of the gendarmerie (and it is to be hoped
will soon possess another small but efficient force organised under the
supervision of Colonel Merrill), places them in a position to dictate their
will to the tribes, and to enforce compliance, if necessary. The Kashgais,
like all Nomad tribes, are singularly vulnerable when on the move. I
have myself on two occasions witnessed a portion of the tribal migration,
and anything more helpless than this mob of sheep, donkeys, cattle, &c., all
mixed up with women, children, and household goods, it would be difficult
to imagine; and probably the merest threat to proceed against them by force
when shifting from their summer to their winter quarters, or vice versa, would
be sufficient to reduce them to instant submission. The fact that the great
bulk of the tribe must necessarily cross the main road within a few farsakhs
, of Shiraz also tends to simplify the problem. A glance at the map will show
that the lines of the Kashgai migration converge both from the north and from
the south, and cross the main Sliiraz-Bushire road in the short space between
Chinar Rahdar, and Dashtarjin. This is precisely the section of the road
where the gendarmes have posted themselves most strongly. In addition to
the existing towers and caravanserais there are now under construction a
number of block-houses on this stretch of road, and when these are completed
and occupied by the gendarmerie, it will be possible for the latter absolutely
to block any tribal movement with the minimum of difficulty and risk to
t themselves. It is true that a section of the Kashkulis, and some quite minor
sub-sections, have a route through the Mamasenni country which avoids the
necessity of crossing the main red; but with the gendarmes in occupation of
Shapur this fact would prove of but little advantage to them in the event of it
being necessary to bring pressure fo bear upon them.
In a word I am of opinion that the Kashgai question is one which has
only to be firmly handled to be capable of a comparatively simple and
satisfactory solution. Half the troubles and difficulties which have been
occasioned by the Kashgais during recent years have been due to intertribal
squabbles, jealousies, and intrigues, provoked by one or other of the hereditary
llkhanis; or by the unquenchable hostility which exists between the Sowlet-
ed-Dowleh and the Kawam-ul-Mulk. In my opinion, the abolition of the
hereditary Ilkhaniship altogether, when combined with the presence of a stron°-
government force on the Bushire road, will settle the Kashgai question once
and for all (so far at least as there is any finality in any Persian policy that is
to say), and will free the provincial administration from a long-standin 0, source
• of anxiety and embarrassment.
It only remains to be added that the Sowlet-ed-Dowleh’s notorious, and
I believe ineradicable, hostility to the Kawam-ul-Mulk might possibly
prove a very embarrassing circumstance should it at any time be found
advisable to appoint the Kawam-ul-Mulk as Governor-General of Ears.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises correspondence between: 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. , the Foreign Office, the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, the British Consul at Shiraz (Major Frederick O'Connor), the British Minister at Tehran, and the 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. , regarding the Bushire-Shiraz road.

The subjects are:

  • the proposed tours of the British Consul and other officials to Shiraz and Tehran;
  • the operations of the Persian Gendarmerie (led by Swedish officers) on the Bushire-Shiraz road;
  • the headquarters and schools of the Gendarmerie.

The volume includes a divider which gives the year that the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in it arranged by year. This divider is placed at the front of the volume.

Extent and format
1 volume (162 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. The subject 3280 ('Persia: Bushire-Shiraz road) consists of one volume only, IOR/L/PS/10/404.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 164; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 3280/1913 'Persia: Bushire-Shiraz road; Swedish gendarmerie; conditions on the Bushire-Shiraz road; tours of Shiraz consul' [‎78v] (161/332), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/404, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028922461.0x0000a2> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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