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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.' [‎15r] (34/566)

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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“ British protected person, hut that His Majesty’s Government had special
“ relations with him, and in the event of any encroachment on his rights he
“ would receive their support.” This intimation seems to have been
received without comment, and the facts as then stated have been given
publicity to in the Press and are well known to all Persian officials and
educated Persians generally. Again, recently, in connection with the
Muin-ut-Tujjar’s pretension that the Dutch Government were displaying
active interest in the question of Karun
irrigation from Ahwaz, Sir Walter
Townley informed the Persian Premier
that “ the railway scheme had much
“ increased our already large interests
Telegram No. 328, dated 20th Sep
tember 1913, from Minister, Teheran, to
Resident repeated Foreign Department
under 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. No. 1619, dated 20th
September 1913.
“ in that part of the world.”
Apart from the above, the arguments suggested in the preceding para
graph based on the position of Mohammerah as a component part of the
Gulf sphere can be used with equal force to the Persian as to the Russian
Governments.
14. The position as between ourselves and the Sheikh of Mohammerah
appears to me to be as follows :—
It is a little over a decade since it was recognised that a more vigilant
and active policy was called for in order to consolidate our position at the
head of the Gulf, which in connection with the Baghdad Railway project
and other delevelopments was likely to become the principal arena of
development in the near future. This policy had for its primary features
the cultivation of close relations with Kuwait and Mohammerah, and the
pursuit of it has been attended with the happiest results. Both Rulers have
shown themselves to possess statesmanlike qualities and to be worthy of our
confidence and support, and both their political status and the commercial
prosperity of their territories have been greatly benefitted by the association.
Both of them appear to me to have complete confidence in the sincerity of
our attitude towards them and in the community of interests on which it is
based. Our position at Kuwait may be said to have been definitely regulated
by the recent Convention with the Porte, and to be susceptible of little
further improvement for the present.
In regard to Mohammerah it is not so strong, though so far as the
Sheikh’s attitude towards us is concerned it leaves nothing to be desired.
He was prompted m 1909 to enter into a most satisfactory agreement with
the Oil Company under the D’Arcy Concession, and since his decoration
with the K.C.I.E. in 1910 in connection with that matter and others, he
has given repeated signs of his confidence and goodwill. Among them I
may mention (i) the accord of an exclusive option for irrigation; (ii) the
grant of rights of preemption over the foreshores of Khor Musa ; (hi)
co-operation” in connection with the railway project; and (iv) in regard to
the river frontier and the Riverain Commission. He is now ready to give
us a definite concession for irrigating a particular tract of country from the
waters of the Karun, and it is ready m draft m case of uigency, in order to
enable us if necessary to refer to a concrete concession between specific
limits obtained by us from the Sheikh. This, however, has merely
been decided by the Sheikh, Major Haworth and myself, for the above
colourable purpose, whereas I venture to think that expert advice is
necessary for the selection of a suitable scheme. Meanwhile, as
explained by Major Haworth in the memorandum 1 accompanying, he urges
that his own position is still in some ways precarious, and in view of pro
spective developments earnestly desires that it should be examined and
strengthened as far as may be within the scope of practical politics.
15 At my farewell interview with him on 4th instant he un
burdened himself at length. While expressing the utmost gratitude for
the support accorded to him during the past few years and freely
acknowledging the benefit he had derived from it, he explained that his
own position was still a very difficult one, and that his responsibilities and

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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.' [‎15r] (34/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525713.0x000023> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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