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File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎14r] (32/566)

The record is made up of 1 volume (281 folios). It was created in 1910-1915. 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. .

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3
Scheme is an unwelcome indication that this apprehension of the penotiation
of Russian influence from the Ispahan direction, cannot be ignored.
From the other direction, the Gulf, we have to cope with increasingly
keen German competition which has steadily developed, first from small
beginnings, at Fingeh, thence to Rahrain, afterwards to basiah and Moham-
merah, and now to the Karun and Ahwaz. Recent instances of it are to be
found in the attempt to compete with Messrs. Lynch s steamers on the Karun,
followed by overtures for the acquisition of a wharf at Ahwaz and icpoited
intentions, not yet confirmed, of competing in the forwarding business to
Ispahan.
9. A consideration of the above paragraphs will, I think, demonstrate that
commercially we need to pursue an active and enterprising policy in ordei to
keep foreign influence and competition at bay, and, secondly, that me
material for substantial progress is there to hand, but that the political
conditions require strengthening before full advantage can be taken o i ,
the need for which assumes special urgency if we are to look to Arabistan tor
the supply of our national needs in the direction of oil luel. .
Before making suggestions as to what steps would seem feasible m the
direction indicated, I beg to state our present position as it appears to me to
be vis-d-vis (i) other Powers, and ( 11 ) the Sheikh of Mohammerah.
10. In the diplomatic field our special position in the Sheikh of
Mohammerah’s territory has received a considerable measure of specno oi
indirect recognition from each of the three Powers entitled to be interested
in the question.
11. Turkey.—At the time of
Vide enclosure to Despatch No. 402,
dated 21st June 1810. Sir G. Lowther to
Sir E. Grey
the Zain incident in 1910 it will be
remembered that Plis Majesty’s Consul,
Basrah, in a communication to the Wali,
referred to Mohammerah as being
“ under British protection.” Since
hen in connection with the Anglo-Turkish Convention, Mohammerah has
l.een the subject of repeated representations to the Porte m which emphasis
has been laid 3 upon the close relations existing between His Majesty s Uovcn
nent and the Sheikh of Mohammerah. These assertions have not only
ii t Ent Ivivp been well received and tacitly accepted and
acted 6 upon ; for example! in the matter of the regulation of the Mohammerah
frontier • in regard to the representation of Mohammerah interests m t le
Riverain Commlsion ; and in connection with the Sheikh s right to purchase
and hold real property in Turkey.
have^rewiftlj^ bemi^discussecrvLli^th^’Russ’iak^oreiiinmnf in Connection
present the actual text of our engagements or assurances has not been
““ifTowever one can judge at all from the opinions expressed and obser-
it, however, °“ e ^ J. 6 officials w i t h whom I or other othcers of this
vations let drop . c former firmly believe, and in conversa-
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ^^MoCmerah 5 is under British tutelage,
tion “P.I?* r .£ imaffin^thatour engagements with the Sheikh are much more
and evide y £ tnallv are. I a m thus inclined to surmise that m
far-reaching 1 an . PTlt i v ra i S ed in regard to the wording of the Anglo-
making *6 objectmr not s0 m ® c h to impede us, but rather to use
1 urkish Lorn ention, , SDe cial position in Arabistan as an argument
the fact of our LT'!® yfLIanTor om P part in connection with their own
for the display o 1 < recently informed the Russian Govern-
penetration m the Aortl . _ ' . c , ,1 essential basis of our relations
ment in re PkLwrtrthe Shaikh is the maintenance of his loyalty, as a Persian
and engagements with the bnei SLll) j ect> to the Central Government. It
Vide telegram 628, dated 26th August seems ’ a question for consideration,
1913, from Sir E. Grey to Sir G. Buchanan. it \ ould not be politic at the
present juncture, after overhauling and improving the data, as our interests an

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Content

Correspondence including telegrams, hand written letters and printed enclosures, discusses an attack by a Turkish gun-boat on a village - Zain, belonging to the Shaikh of Mohammerah - which lay on the Turkish bank of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. The correspondence outlines the circumstances that led to the quarrel between the Turkish authorities and the Sheikh of Mohammerah, and suggestions that the Porte should be urged to replace the Wali of Basrah with a less aggressive official.

Correspondence discusses the proposal to give the Shaikh of Mohammerah assurances against naval attack, whatever the pretext for such action; letters and telegrams also discuss the award of a decoration (Knight Commander of the Indian Empire) to the Shaikh of Mohammerah.

A letter (dated 7 December 1913) from Percy Zachariah Cox, 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. , outlines the Government of India's interests in Arabistan including: the oil fields and their future; irrigation; railway enterprises; telegraphs; Russian and German activity.

Correspondents include Percy Zachariah Cox, 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. ; Sir Gerard Lowther, Ambassador to Constantinople; Charles Murray Marling, Ambassador to Tehran; Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign affairs; Francis Edward Crow, H M Consul at Bussorah [Basra]; Arnold Talbot Wilson, H M Consul at Mohammerah; Shaikh Khazal bin Jabir, Shaikh of Mohammerah; Wali of Bussorah; Viceroy of India.

Extent and format
1 volume (281 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 345 (Mohammerah: situation) 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: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 278; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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 folio sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the one ending flyleaf.

An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel throughout; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎14r] (32/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525713.0x000021> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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