File 1421/1908 Pt 4 'Persia: oil; Anglo-Persian Oil Co and Bakhtiaris' [‎87r] (31/292)

3
situation that w ould follow the resumption of work on a larger scale, it seemed
undesirable for me to take any action at the present moment, which might operate,
even temporarily, to their detriment.
8. In his despatch No. 70 of the 3rd July, 1911, to His Britannic Majesty’s
Minister forwarding Mr. Soane’s letter of the 29th June, Mr. McDouall expressed
his opinion that the total removal from Kasr-i-Shinn of Kerim Khan was the only
remedy for us to seek. With this view I venture to express my complete concurrence
with the proviso that he should be exiled not only from that town but from the
Bajilan country.*
9. There is good reason to believe that an order to effect such removal addressed
by the Persian Government to Daoud Khan, might not be unwelcome to the latter, who
might be relieved to see Kerim Khan ejected, though for personal reasons he seems to
feel himself unable to do so on his own initiative. Such removal should be followed by
the reinstatement of Sher Khan, Samsam-ul-Mamahk, the present Government nominee,
with whom Daoud Khan has recently effected a reconciliation, and whose conduct when
in charge of this district has been uniformly satisfactory.
10. Were it deemed desirable to make such a representation there is no doubt that
the customs would be very glad to put forward a similar request, a suitable opportunity
may be afforded by the expected arrival at Kermanshah of the new Governor General
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mutazid with a considerable force.
11. lam informed by Mr. Soane that there is much talk in Turkish official circles
regarding the desirability of regaining the province of Zohab for the Ottoman Empire,
and the furkish consul at Kermanshah was recently endeavouring to utilise the anarchy
existing, numerous cases of oppression of Turkish subjects as an excuse for introducing
lurkish troops, thus very possibly raising the whole frontier question in a way most
inconvenient to us and Persia.
1 hese facts would seem to strengthen the case for Kerim Khan’s early removal.
12. I have sent a copy of the letter to His Majesty’s Minister and to Mr. McDouall.
I have, &c.
A. T. WILSON, on Special Duty.
\
r
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul McDouall to Sir G. Barclay.
(No. 70.)
Sir, Kermanshah, July 3, 1911.
IN continuation of my telegram No. 34 dated the 24th June, 1911.
I have the honour to forward a copy of a letter which I have received from
Mr. Soane regarding the relations at present existing between the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company and Kerim Khan, which appear to show a temporary improvement.
2. As mentioned in my diary of the 19th June, information locally obtained
confirms Mr. Soane’s view that Kerim Khan has already lost the active support of
Daoud Khan, but the latter is not likely to remove him until he has recovered the
maliyat.
3. There appears to be a probability that Daoud Khan will later on give the
governorship of Kasr to Sher Khan Sinjabi Samsam-ul-Mamalik, the nominee of the
Persian Government for the post, whose previous record gives us every reason to hope
that his return would put an end to the company’s difficulties with Kerim Khan as well
as to the disorders now prevalent in the district.
4. I fully concur with Mr. Soane’s view that the removal of Kerim Khan is the
only true solution of the difficulty; I may add that action in this direction by the
Persian Government would give scarcely less satisfaction to the provincial director of
customs than to the company, as Kerim Khan constantly interferes with the customs
administration in Kasr, and only recently two customs employes were stabbed by
his men.
I have, &c.
w. McDouall.
* the Bajilan country may be said to be bounded by Kasr-i-Shirin, Par-i-Diwan, Zohab, Sirwan River,
Aghdagh Mountains, the two last forming the locally recognised Turkish frontier.