'File 3/8 Affairs of Sh. Khaz`als sons.' [‎134r] (267/508)

SECRET
Bheilchdom of
1, The province known as AiiABISTiiN (or KxiUZISTiil,') is a part of
the Mesopotamian plain inhabited by arable speaking tribesmen and is
separated from Iran by an arbitrary frontier demarcated shortly before-
the last war* Important tribes such as the MEhiAISHT and the B.ANI laU
live astride this frontier, which nevertheless marks the a\ zoximate
boundary between the dominions of the Cult an and the 3hah as they exist
ed for three centuries before the recent re-emergence of the i.rabs as
a political force* KHU2iISTiiII is vital to iX>6je m Persian economy cont
aining as it does the oil pipe line and South Persia’s only tolerable
seaports of MOHAUIERAH (iCHOERitPEAHR) and BMTDM SIlhHPUK. The main
tribal groupings in the area are the CHA’B centred on P AT.T.aTTT YA
the MUHAISIN centred on IIOHiLtlERAH (iTORRhliSilAHR) and on ABADhN Island-,
the BMI TJUmi around IWOZA, the BMI TURUP around JuUFMIYA (SUSANGIRD)
and the BANI LAM to the northward of the last up to the foot of the
ZAGROS* The tribes to the East of these are of lesser importance*
2. The GKA*© moved into the area from what is now Iraq (and where
detached CHA’B sections still live) in the course of the 17th century
and rapidly became notorious as pirates in the Gulf in which capacity
they periodically attracted the attention of the British Navy. During
the period of their power the control of the Shah over the area was weak
and ineffective.
3* Early in the 19th century however the ilUHAISIN who had been
driven out by the CHA’B returned and rose rapidly into prominence* In
1812 the town of MOHAMtlERAH was founded by the CHA’B and its governorship
given to Hajji YUSUF ibn hiAKDAW, the leading Shaikh of the JIUHAISIN: and
the latter was succeeded in this diginity by his son, the great Shaikh
Ha^ji JABIR who ruled from 1G19 to 1881. In 1857 he was made independ
ent of the CHA’B by the EHTESHAM ud DOWIEH, Governor of the province on
behalf of NASIR ud DIN Shah, and when later the CHA’B Shaikh was sent a
prisoner to TEHRAN the PALLikHIYA area was added to his dominions# In
i860 a new governor, the ZIA ul UULK, turned the tables and Ha Ul ji JABIR
spent two years enforced residence in TEHRAN: but the next governor
Prince PARSHAD ItlRZA reinstated him and he was givo-n the title of I-TUSRAT
ul HULK. His remaining years vl. re passed in extending his x .ov/wrs over
the neighbouring CHtt’B, and as a reinsurance against the fickle fortune
ever liable to overtake Persian notables he at the same time acquired
by purchase vast estates in Turkish territory along che SHATT ai ’ARAB.
It is worth noting that he caiae under particular suspicion in TEIiRiJT for
help given to the British in the suppre . sion of piracy on the KARUN.
4-* Hajji JABIR's eldest son and best general ’ISA predeceased
him and he was therefore succeeded on his death in 1881 by his eldest
surviving heir MIZ’AL. The latter, by encouraging dissensions between
rival CHA’B pretenders, secured his own recognition as paramount Sheikh
of both MOHAISIN and CEA’B, and by reducing to obedience the hereditary
VALI of HAWIZA brought the whole countxy between the TIGRIS and the
KARUN under his own control. This position was recognised by the Persian
Government and he was given the title of HU'IZZ us SALTANEH. In 1897
he was assassinated by a conspiracy of his relations and was succeeded
by his last surviving brother KHAZ’AL who was himself implicated in the
plot*
Shaikh Sir KKAZ*AL i bn Hajii JABIR Khan^ GCIE*, KGL'I* ( 1861 - 1936).
5* KHAZ’AL, who was aged 3^ at his a.ccession, was permitted by the
Shah to retain his brother’s title of MU’IZZ us SALTANEH and' further
honoured vd.th the title of 8 AEDAR AQPAS and appointed Persian Governor
of Southern ASABISTAN* In 1898 he procured the final dovmfall of the
CHA’B power and inherited all their possessions from the KARUN to
HINDIYAN in the S.E. of the province. Finally in 1903 an imperial Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’).
(extracts at Appendix ’A’) confirmed his ownership of the whole of
s. ARABISTAN/-