File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [17v] (39/566)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
10
of the railway foreign firms will arrive in force and complicate the
situation.
It is then time for us to take stock of events.
Our interests in Arabistan are so great both politically and commercially
that the practical autonomy of the Sheikh and our control over him become
matters of moment to us. , ^ i , i i i
Since the giving of the assurances to the Sheikh matters have advanced
considerably. We are about to build a railway in Arabistan, we have an
option on the Khor Musa, we are to represent the Sheikh on the Conservancy
Board for Shatt-el-Arab, the Sheikh has promised us that should it be
necessary he will give us a concession for irrigation on the Karun, while the
Oil Company has just obtained from him permission to bore for oil at Ahwaz.
In return it is not much that he should ask for an increased measure of
security for himself, while the fact cannot lie too much underlined that the
Sheikh’s interests are our material interests.
In a recent speech the First Lord of the Admiralty referred to the
necessitv of our opening up all the oil fields which we could in British
territory.
The present oil fields of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company lie just beyond
the Sheikh’s lands though the refinery is at Abadan, but 8 miles from
Mohammerah as the crow Hies and on the Sheikh’s property. He has now
agreed, on very favourable terms to the Company, to drilling for oil at
Ahwaz should oil be found there, and the geologists are very sanguine ; then
oil field, pipe line, and refinery will all be within his territory.
With the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
in our hands the advantage of having the control of
this country through the Sheikh is evident and any lessening of his authority
will act to our detriment.
The greater the power of the Sheikh the greater our control; the greater
his autonomous powers the more he will put himself in our hands, for he
understands that he cannot stand alone.
The Sheikh would willingly put himself entirely under our protection
were that possible, and, indeed, has often told me he wished that he
could do so. He has even said that he wishes that we could administer
his lands for him, paying him a fixed revenue. He fully realises the immense
grain and cotton growing possibilities of Arabistan with its rivers and
canals, but knows that an Arab like himself is incapable of developing it.
With the Central Government at Tehran it is, I suppose, impossible to
talk of a protectorate, but it would appear that there could be no objection
to our referring to our very special position and interests in Arabistan, and
to informing the Persian Government that in consequence we have also very
special relations with the Sheikh, and that these relations make it impossible
for us to tolerate any infringement of the rights and privileges which he
has acquired. Such a position would gradually stiffen into an actual pro
tection without interfering with the Persian suzerainty. It would enable
us to give the Sheikh the support which he requires and at the same time
enable us to obtain over Arabistan the control of oil and other industries
which we wish to develop.
2nd August 1913.
L. Haworth, Major,
His Majesty’s Consul for Arabistan.
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/133
- Title
- File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:280v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence