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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.' [‎15v] (35/566)

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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i • i rlnv He Dressed for assistance in the
anxieties became heavier day by day. ne pi
“ir^ould the ^
secure by a modifu ation o between the Bakhtiaris
(ii) P-e between
and him sell, tam ^ immune from the necessity and
oZ“r° f-i"™/.—•* *•
protection of his territory against their aggression.
(hi) That we should endeavour to devise and take measures with 11
Persian Government and in such directions as may be politically
nossible to secure to him the status of local autonomy to which the
Cory of the past ent.tled him and which he at present enjoys in
practice, but on a precarious basis.
16. He puts forward the following grounds in justification of this
dcllITl *
M That though entirely unassisted and forgotten by the Persian
( } ^ Government, 6 he has maintained his territory in good order while
the rest of Persia had been in chaos, and he has paid his revenue
fully and regularly to the Imperial Exchequer.
1 (b) That he is personally saddled with full responsibility for paying
compensation for losses from piracy, robbery, <kc and the
expenses are not deducted by him from revenue but paid from his
(c) That he has a large extent of frontier on the flank of his territory
but is entirely left to his own devices by the Central Government
who give him no instructions and supply him with no arms.
Moreover, though the present Boundary Commission is to assemble
at and start from Mohammerah, he has up to the present not received
a word on the subject from Tehran or from the Foreign Office Agent
at Mohammerah.
(d) For some time past repeated observations have appeared m various
newspapers, giving the impression that he is undei some form of
British protection, lie is very thankful for the measure of support
which he has hitherto enjoyed, and would be only too glad if he
really were under our protection, but as it is, he suffers no little
inconvenience from these reports, while not enjoying that feeling of
security which actual British protection would give him.
17. I submit that the consolidation of our position in Arabistan is a
matter of immediate importance in view of coming developments, especially
if the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s concern is to become more closely
associated than at present with the national interests of Great Britain. It
seems to me that the position can be considerably improved both by our
strengthening the Sheikh’s position, and thus indirectly our own, and also by
diplomatic means, in the form of communications to the Russian and Persian
Governments in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.
I beg respectfully to offer the following suggestions for consideration :—
(a) That in the first place we should meet the Sheikh’s wishes as far as
we can in the matter of the wording of our assurances to him, and
that instead of the words “ and be acceptable to your tribesmen,”
we should substitute the words, “ and provided always that the
“ nomination of your successor from among your descendants shall
be subject to confidential consultation with, and the approval
“ of, His Majesty’s Government.”
(b) That having carried out (a) we should forthwith make confidentially
to the Russian Government a fuller explanation of the Sheikh’s
practical position of local autonomy, subject always to the main
tenance of loyalty, and the regular payment of revenue to the
Central Government, and should also communicate to them the
grounds and the necessity for ourselves to take a fatherly interest

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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.' [‎15v] (35/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525713.0x000024> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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