File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎150r] (304/416)

Confidential]
No. 942, dated Bushire, the 22nd (received 30th} March 1908.
From— MAJOR P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—S. H. Butler, Esq., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India in the
Foreign Department, Simla.
I have the honour to forward for information and such consideration as may
be possible, copies of the undermentioned papers —
(1) A memorandum giving details of an interview between myself, accom
panied by Mr, Consul McDouall, and Sheikh Khazal of Moham-
merah on 7th January last.
A letter No. 44, dated 3rd February 1908, received from His
Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul, Ahwaz, in which the latter reports
the purport of a conversation which he recently had with the
Bakhtyari Khans, Salar-i-Arfa and Shahab-es-Sultaneh.
The Sheikh of Mohammerah asked me to await receipt of the memorandum
of State expenditure which he was preparing, before taking special action on his
representations, and when the summary of the said document reached Bushire I
was away on tour ; meanwhile Captain Lorimer’s report also reached me.
2. In connection with the abovementioned papers I beg to refer to, and to
quote for facility of reference, a memorandum recorded by Sir Louis Dane at the
time of the tour made by His Excellency Lord Curzon and Sir Arthur Hardinge
to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in the winter of 1903. The passage I refer to runs as foil jws ;
{vide enclosure to Foreign Department, No. 694-E.A., dated 1st March 1904):—
“ The question of increasing our influence in the Lur and Bakhtyari country
* * and of strengthening the tribes in South-Western Persia, so as
to enable them to hold their own in the event of a collapse of the central
power or trouble in South-Western Persia was discussed on several occasions by
His Excellency with Sir Arthur Hardinge. * * * * It was
recognised that our future action in South-Western Persia must largely depend on
the extent to which we could strengthen and utilise both tribes and the tribes of
Arabistan, who under the Sheikh of Mohammerah are in much the same posi
tion
3. It will be seen from my present enclosures that practically simultaneously
though independently, the Chiefs of the Bakhtyaris and of the Arab tribes of
Arabistan respectively have become apprehensive as to their future and convinced
that their interests lie in union among themselves, if possible under our aegis.
The Sheikh of Mohammerah, encouraged no doubt by the understanding at
which his fidus Achates Sheikh Mubarek has arrived at with us, presses for an
assurance that his lineal heirs will be maintained in the enjoyment of their
present patrimony, and will be reasonably safeguarded against curtailment of
their present semi-independent position and powers, by the Central Government.
As arguments in support of his rights or strong claims to such treatment Sheikh
Khazal adduces the facts that ever since his accession the Central Government
have obliged him to meet from private funds very heavy expenditure which
should properly have fallen on the Government Exchequer, and that now during
the current Turco-Persian crisis the Central Government have left him, absolutely
to take care of himself in the best way he can, in fact, have neither the means
nor the power to do anything to help him in the event of his territory being
invaded by Turkish troops. In this respect he is in a measure comforted by his
confidence in Great Britain to prevent any attack upon him by sea but in the
event of an invasion from the landside he feels that he would be placed in a very
serious position, seeing that he possesses no artillery or large supply of ammuni
tion.
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In return for such assurances from us as his heart desires he expresses
readiness to bind himself to us in any way which may seem to us feasible.
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