File 1356/1912 Pt 2 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople. (Mohammerah Boundary)' [‎324r] (656/680)

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Govemrngn^]
PERSIA.
r
[August 29.J
CONFIDENTIAL.
1 3 t
Section 4.
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[36426]
No. r
Anglo-Bersian Oil Company to Foreign Office.—(Received August 29.)
Winchester House,
Old Broad Street, London,
Sir, August 28, 1912.
I BEG to hand yon copy of a letter addressed to our managing agents by our
agent at Kasr-i-Shirin, Mr. E. B. Soane, covering one addressed to His Majesty’s
Resident at Bagdad, relating to an attack which was recently made upon him by a
Turkish guard at the frontier town of Khanikin.
As the attack in question was a very serious one and quite unjustified, my board
consider that the matter should not be allowed to rest with the very inadequate
reparation which has been made by the Vali of Bagdad—viz., the permission to use a
road which we have always used and which is a public highway—but that the Turkish
Government should be called upon to make an official apology and/or to pay Mr. Soane
some pecuniary compensation.
Some such action would seem to be necessary, not only for the future protection
of our employes and property, but also for the protection of other British travellers,
and my board will therefore be much obliged if Sir Edward Grey can see his way to
making a representation to the Turkish Government on the subject.
I have, &c.
C. GREENWAY,
Managing Director.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. E. B. Soane to Messrs. Strick, Scott, and Co. {Mohammerah).
Dear Sirs, July 24, 1912.
I HAVE to inform you that on the 21st June last the Turkish authorities of
Khanikin stopped one of our carts at the frontier while proceeding to that town from
Chia Surkh, affirming that they had received orders from the Governor of Khanikin so
to do. After some altercation the cart was allowed to proceed. On arrival at Khanikin
of the cart, our agent was sent for by the governor, who informed him that in future
no carts would be allowed to pass over our road, which he intended to close to us.
On the agent making strong representations that such a step would not only hinder
but stop our work, besides cutting off our food supplies, he consented to permit one
cart (that he should mark) to make one journey one way per day. The cart then in
Khanikin was therefore sent back, our agent having secured a written permit. At the
frontier the military again stopped our cart, but on the man producing his order again
allowed him to proceed. Next day a cart from Bagdad arrived, while the original cart
again came to Khanikin, thus making two company s carts in Khanikin. This was the
24th June. As the Bagdad load was important, and the other cart had come in to
meet me on my arrival from Bagdad, the load went on without a pass, though
stopped, the driver, by exercise of his wits, succeeded in getting away.^ ^ The same
morning 1 arrived, and, desiring to proceed immediately, ordered the waiting cart to
get under weigh. The agent informed me that by the new regulation the lurks would
not allow it to go, as one cart had already gone that day. Having satisfied myself that
his story was correct, I wired to the resident at Bagdad, as the matter was n/ost serious,
refusing to discuss the question with the local governor, for reasons which I afterwards
Next morning, the 25th June, the cart having a full load, I hired riding animals
for myself and a servant, and proceeded by our road to Ohia Surkh, and en route the
unpleasant incident occurred as reported by me to the resident, and of which I enclose
a copy, making it unnecessary to amplify here. ^ -d j j
On the 30th June I received a wire from the resident to come at once to Bagdad
but not considering our local affairs sufficiently tranquil te^perinit of my absence, and
feeling it necessary to stay whilpJ^LcMeekin was so sick. I wired
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