File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎194r] (392/416)

[ This d ocument is the Property ot His Britaniiic Majesty s Gro vernmeiit, j
PERSIA AND ARABIA.
CONPIDENTIAL.
[October 3.]
Section 2.
No. 1.
Sir A. Hardinge to the Marquess of Lansdowne.—{Received October 3.)
(No. 167. Confidential.)
My Lord, ^ Gulahek, September 6 , 1904.
I HAN E the honour to transmit herewith copies of correspondence between His
Majesty s Resident in the Persian Quit and myself respecting certain schemes in which
the Sheikh of Mohammerah is interested and those bearing on our general relations with
that Chief.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ARTHUR H. HARDINGE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Major Cox to Sir A. Hardinae.
(No. 108.)
Sir, Bushire, July 21, 1904.
UNDER this office No. 94, dated the 2nd instant, I had the honour to forward,
for your Excellency’s information. Lieutenant Lorimer’s Report No. 17, dated the
21 st June, in paragraph 9, of which His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Ahwaz
dealt with the local aspect of the support which His Majesty’s Government had
expressed their readiness to afford to the principality^ of Mohammerah.
2. I now submit copies of two further letters since received from Vice - Consul
Lo rimer.
The earliest of these two communications deals with two irrigation schemes, and
one proposal for the purchase of certain riparian property. The second letter is connected
with a supposed endeavour on the part of the Sheikh of Mohammerah to get
Messrs. Lynch to move your Excellency to advise the Central Government to reimburse
for expenses incurred retrospectively and prospectively, in policing highways of trade in
Arabistan.
Each of these subjects I commend to your Excellency for such consideration as you
may feel able to give it on its merits. The irrigation projects mentioned in letter No. 25,
would no doubt require to be subjected to expert examination before any measure of
participation in them, direct or indirect, could be seriously considered by Government, and
with the information at present available to me it is difficult to venture any opinion as
to their soundness. What irrigation is doing for Egypt, and might do for the region with
which we are now concerned is a matter of common knowledge.
3. The course suggested in the second of the inclosures seems primd facie
to be worthy of your Excellency’s good offices, but, in forwarding these papers
what I would ask you especially to notice is the general trend of these and
previous reports received from His Majesty’s newly-appointed Vice-Consul at Ahwaz.
They seem to make it clear that the Sheikh of Mohammerah, in spite of authoritative
pronouncements and advice communicated to bun by your Excellency, and notwithstanding
his own repeated assurances to the contrary, is chating at the difficulties and uncertainty
of his relations and position in regard to the Shah’s Government, and is at heart dis
satisfied by the need of prospective support of which His Majesty’s Government has hitherto
felt in a position to assure him.
4 . From the records on the subject available to me it appears exceedingly improbable
that in the absence of any provocative cause, His Majesty’s Government would see its
wav to amplify its promises in the direction of active support. On the other hand, it is
not inconceivable that the Government might come to the conclusion that our position
and influence in Arabistan, and our hold over tne present Eulci of Mohammeiuh might be
strengthened without dereliction of our obligations to a Iriendly lower, and witnout laying
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