File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎117r] (238/416)

Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey .— {Beceived March 5 p.m.)
(No. 199.) t Tehran, March^L 5’30 p.m.
BEFORE I received your telegram No. 109, Cox had already returned to Bushire
as he found at Mohammerah that the Sheikh was leaving for Ahwaz, and he wished to
avoid if possible being out of touch with the Gulf ports.
Following extracts from a telegram from him No. 251 26th March show result
of his visit:—
Cox found Sheikh much worried. Strong pressure was being exerted on him from
Nejef and elsewhere to embrace popular cause, and difficulty of his position was
aggravated by the impossibility of telegraphing to Shah or Government without being
censored at Ispahan.
“ Part 1. Sheikh stated that situation at Mohammerah now rendered much more
critical by news of recent events at Bunder Abbas and Bushire, and he anticipated that
unruly Nationalist levies would now turn their attention to his out-lying ports of Dilam
Hindean, &c.”
He continued that unless I could give him assurances that British Government
would give him effective support in resisting Nationalists and would protect him
against subsequent consequences of his so doing he could not hold out much longer,
and must take some course which wmuld save his face with both parties.
I replied that I was not authorized to give any such guarantee. He went on to
explain that if customs receipts continued to be forwarded to Tehran, Nationalist
resentment would be unrestrainable ; that he as head of Mohammerah would be made
responsible for receipts and that, in absence of definite advice or intervention from us,
he would be unable to avoid asking Belgian Director to retain receipts under adequate
guard in Customs premises until atmosphere became clearer.
“ Part 2. Text of assurances. What the Sheikh hopes for is, first to be assured
that we will not permit any Persian regime, whether autocratic or constitutional, to
disturb status quo in regard to himself or his successors; secondly, that we ourselves will
not disturb it as long as he fulfils his obligations to us, and thirdly, that we will oppose
any other Power attempting to do so. Realizing from my replies to his inquiries that
dynastic guarantee could not he expected, he earnestly begged that assurances given
him might at all events be extended to his immediate offspring, subject, of course, to
their giving us satisfaction. He expressed readiness to satisfy us as to concurrence of
tribal Sheikhs.”
“ Part 3. As regards irrigation question, his present apprehensions nave been
allayed. I also discussed scheme fully with Willcocks, who is recording his conclusions
in a Memorandum for me. Primd facie, he considers present project calculated to
have a deleterious effect on shareholders of Sheikh’s existing date gardens on Abadan
and Shat-el-Arab.”
“ Part 4. As regards loan, Sheikh will be content for the present with the
provisional assurance that we are ready to grant a loan on suitable terms, and that he
need not look elsewhere. Character of security or quid yro quo to be given by nm
cannot be decided until he has found the old Firmans on which his tenure is baser.
For these he is now searching. It is suggested that in the event of irrigation or other
utilitarian scheme being undertaken by him with our assistance, a lien on t le woi vs as
they progressed would be a feasible form of security.”
Cox tells me privately that Sheikh is reassured and for the moment reasonable
I am asking him whether he considers having regard to your te egiam i o. « ,
which I am repeating to him, any further communication to Sheikh desira j o. e | 1 s
contemplated action in regard to Customs seems unobjectionable, am . am e
Cox so.
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