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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.' [‎16r] (36/566)

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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in him, using for this purpose the arguments put forward in
paragraph (1) above.
(c) That we should then make an analogous communication to the
Persian Government, the precise extent and terms of which would
require, 1 suppose, to be decided upon in consultation with the
Russian Government, and to be such as they would support. It
is possible that His Majesty’s Government may not think it expe
dient to communicate the text of the assurances to the Persian
Government, but after all the terms of them are considerably less
pregnant than those in which the Porte has acquiesced in the case
of Koweit. In any case we could inform them that, having regard
to the position of Mohammerah territory on the shores of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and of the great commercial stake which we possess
therein, we are obliged to ensure both that the Sheikh is maintained
in his position, and his special rights by custom and firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). , and
that the territories under his control are preserved in the future as
they have been in the past from the upheavals which have wrecked
and impoverished other provinces of Persia. We might then add
that we have informed the Sheikh that such will be our policy and
endeavours, provided always that he remains in loyalty and pays
his revenue to the Central Government as heretofore. We might
make it clear to the Persian Government that such an attitude on
our part, while rendered necessary by our own interests above
explained, operates entirely in favour of the general interests of
Persia, as it has recently, for example, in connection with the
negotiations with Turkey on the subject of the land and river
frontier in the south. Here our strenuous support of the locally
accepted frontier has gained for Persia a far more advantageous
solution than she could ever have obtained for herself.
(d) I am of opinion that the mere making of such a declaration, of which
the Bakhtiari Khans in Teheran would doubtless learn, would
operate in a great measure as a deterrent against the recrudescence
of serious dissension between them and the Sheikh of Mohammerah.
Nevertheless, the occasion would seem to be a useful one for
making a friendly communication to the Bakhtiari Khans also; in
which we should explain to them the position as regards our
interests in Mohammerah as a component part of the Gulf system,
and in Arabistan generally, and how much we value their friend
ship and count upon their co operation in the preservation of
tranquillity and order in Arabistan generally and on the Ispahan
road. We might add that their present apparently complete
rapprochement with the Sheikh of Mohammerah was a source of
much gratification to us, and that we trust that the terms of any
definite agreement come to would be commiiijbated to us by the
parties in a friendly way, in the hope that tne adoption of this
course would tend to promote the permanency of any agreement
reached.
18. In case the subject of this communication may come up for discussion
at an early date, in connection with the Oil Commission’s Report, I am taking
the liberty of sending a copy to the Political Secretary; 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. , as well
as to His Majesty’s Minister, and very much hope that higher authority will
not see reason to dissent to any fundamental extent from the views and
recommendations which I have ventured to lay before them.
I have, &c.,
?. Z.CoS
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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and
His Majesty’s Consul-General for Kars, &c.

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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.' [‎16r] (36/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525713.0x000025> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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