File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [147r] (298/416)
The record is made up of 1 volume (203 folios). It was created in 1904-1910. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
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/33 &
Departments are requested, if they suspect that there is any mistake
immediately with the Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
Pi
in this telegram, to communicate
'■ .<'
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COPY OF TELEGRAM.
From Yi
Dated
Received at London Office 1 r Cf~fT*
From Viceroy, 10th July 1908.
Foreign Secret. Relations with Mohammerah and the Bakhtiari Khans.
Your telegram of 12th ultimo. We have consulted Cox, who has replied as
follows, dated 4th July, No. 71, Shiraz
“ With reference to Government of India telegram, S. 379, 16th June.
As regards protection of Mohammerah against external aggression, communi
cation proposed in telegram from Secretary of State seems to he sufficient.
As regards maintenance of present status of Sheikh, I suggest that we might
remind him that relations between himself and the British have been close
and sympathetic m the past, and intimate that as long as he and his
successors adhere to these traditions and show themselves ready to promote
legitimate interests of British commerce and enterprise in their jurisdiction
we shall continue to regard maintenance of their prosperity and present
status as being important in our own interests, and that he may therefore
rest assured that we shall be disposed to give him and his successors the
utmost support compatible with strict loyalty on their part to the Persian
Government, and with our own engagements to respect integrity of Persia.
If possible I would add that in return for such assurance we ask bheikh to
undertake on behalf of himself and successors to take private friendly counsel
with us before committing themselves in connection with concessions, loans,
or other engagements to Foreign Powers or nationals.
Should Consul at Mohammerah make special suggestions they will be
sent as soon as received. . . .
As regards Bakhtiaris, 1 have been waiting to communicate with
Lorimmer. He thinks idea mooted in 1904 in connection with tribal levies
will not be practicable under any conditions compatible with present status
of Bakhtiaris and our own engagement to respect integrity of Persia and, as
he thinks that Khans aim at complete independence, he anticipates that any
definite undertaking or agreement would be frequently appealed to by them
for their own purposes. As far as any definite pledge is concerned I agree ;
but on the other hand, we have now to consider that the apparently bright
prospects of the oil industry, and the possibility of profitable irrigation greatly
emphasize importance to us of strengthening our own position m the region
in question, and of keeping the influence and enterprise of other Powers at
a distance. In the circumstances, I do not see why we should not give
Khans a verbal assurance on the lines above suggested m the case of Sheikh
of Mohammerah, adding the warning that such assurance applied to duly
constituted representatives of the Bakhtiari tribes, and not to individual
Khans with whose family dissensions we are not concerned. It does not
seem that such assurance would be opposed to terms of convention with
Russia.”
We agree with Cox as to Mohammerah. We think that it would be
unsafe to enter into negotiations with Bakhtiari Khans, and would not give
verbal assurances proposed by Cox.
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About this item
- Content
The correspondence discusses the situation regarding British assurances to the Sheikh of Mohammerah. The volume includes a description of the Sheikh's perception that, despite his good behaviour towards the British he has not been afforded the support provided to other Arab sheikhs in the Gulf as in Kuwait or Bahrain. Letters include an account of the explanation given to the Sheikh of Mohammerah that Britain recognized Bahrain and Kuwait as independent, in de jure as well as de facto terms; in contrast the British recognized the Shah's sovereignty over Mohammerah.
The correspondence discusses the practicalities of a customs arrangement between the Shah and the Sheikh of Mohammerah mediated by the British. Letters consider the circumstances under which Britain could intervene militarily to protect its interests in the Karun Valley in the event of disorder arising following interference by the Shah.
The correspondence discusses the scope and form of words of the assurance to be given to the Sheikh of Mohammerah and his male descendants, in the event of disorder following from a change in the Persian regime, be it of a royalist, nationalist, or constitutional nature as well as disputes with Bakhtiari khans.
Correspondents include: Shaikh Khazal Khan, 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. -i-Afra, the Shaikh of Mohammerah; The Confidential Agent of the Shaikh of Mohammerah; Major Percy Zachariah Cox, Her Majesty's Consul at Bushire; Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Acting Consul of Mohammerah.
Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (203 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 345 (Mohammerah) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/132-133. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 203; these numbers are written in pencil and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the one leading flyleaf.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/132
- Title
- File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:205v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence