File 1421/1908 Pt 4 'Persia: oil; Anglo-Persian Oil Co and Bakhtiaris' [‎134r] (125/292)

1SU
[This Doeameat is the Property of His Britanmc Majesty's Government]
1 AM in receipt of your favour of \he 16th instant, and regret to learn that His
Majesty’s Minister at Tehran considers that it would be unwise to appoint a British
consular officer at Kasr-i-Shirin unless he were protected by a strong escort..
I would point out that this decision leaves our agent, Mr. E. B. Soane, who is now
at Kasr-i-Shirin in charge of the company’s property, in a very jeopardous position, and
my board will be much obliged if Sir Edward Grey will consider what steps should be
taken in the circumstances, both for the protection of our agent, and also to ensure the
due fulfilment by the Persian Government of their obligations under our concession to
safeguard our property and employes, and to ensure to us free and unrestricted right
to work the wells opened by us at Kasr-i-Shirin.
Notwithstanding the assurance given to me by the Regent when I interviewed him
in Tehran “that prompt measures would be taken to deal with the rebel,” it is clear
from what is reported in your letter, and also from recent advices from Mr. Soane, that
no practical steps have been taken by the Persian Government to compel Kerim Khan
to recognise their authority, but that, on the other hand, they have, through Daoud
Khan, appointed him as Governor of Kasr-i-Shirin, in which position he is, it is
reported, perpetrating various acts of cruelty and extortion on the inhabitants of that
town, and has, by posting his horsemen on the hills around Chiah Sourkh (where he is
located), endeavoured to cut off Mr. Soane’s food and other supplies with a A'iew r to
compelling him to retire from the company’s property.
This is a position which calls for some immediate and determined action on the
part of the Persian Government, and my board would be much obliged for any help
which His Majesty’s Government can give in the matter.
When in Tehran I suggested to Sir George Barclay that a possible solution of the
difficulty might be to appoint Mr. Soane as British consular agent (without pay) at
Kasr-i-Shirin, should such a course be practicable and Mr. Soane be acceptable to lbs
Majesty’s Government in that capacity, because Kerim Khan would, I thought (judging
from the conversations I had with him at Chiah Sourkh), not venture to put any
obstacles in the Avay of an individual holding a recognised official position under the
British Government. Mr. Soane, I may mention, was cpiite confident that, fortified by i
this official position, he would have no difficulty in securing peaceable possession of the !
company’s properties from Kerim Khan, with whom his open relations are quite friendly, t
Apparently, however, Sir George does not consider this course advisable, at any
rate not without providing the consular officer, whoever he might be, with a strong
escort.
The only other course that appears to be open is to call upon the Persian
Government to immediately take whatever steps may be necessary in order to compel
Kerim Khan to allow us to resume possession of the wells and other property belonging
to the company at Chiah Sourkh and to carry on our work there undisturbed, and to
give them notice that pending these steps being taken they Avill be held responsible for
the safety of Mr. Soane and of the company’s property, and also for the value of any oil
which in the meantime may be removed from the wells by Kerim Khan.
In view of the seriousness of the position, my board will be much obliged if
Sir Edward Grey will cause a telegram to be sent to His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran
asking him to call upon the Persian Government to take immediate steps for the
protection of the company’s agent and property at Chiah Sourkh, either on the lines
indicated above or in such other way as Sir George Barclay may consider most
advisable.
PERSIA.
[May 20.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
15 JUN1911
Section 3.
[19321]
No. 1.
Anglo-1’ersian Oil Company to Foreign Office.—(Received May 20.)
\ c - • London, May 19, 1911.
Winchester House, Old Broad Street,
Sir,
I have, &c.
C. GREENWAY.
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