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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.' [‎28r] (60/566)

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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[This Document is the Property of Hia Britanaic Majesty's ]
PEESIA.
>GONFIBENTIAL.
[September 22.]
Section 10,
[ 43231 ]
No. 1.
Siv W. Townley to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received September 22.)
Secret.)
(No. 188.
Sir
’ qtvtptp i , n , Tehran, August 30, 1913.
SIN CL the affray between the gendarmes and the Bakhtiaris that has formed the
subject of preceding despatches, the question of British officers to instruct the
Bakhtiaris ha| again been raised. It will be remembered that I reported in my
despatch No. 231 of the jth November, 1912, that Samsam-es-Sultaneh, at that time
president of the Council, had expressed to me a wish that His Majesty’s Government
would furnish a pertain number of officers whose duty it would be to organise and train
a force of Bakhtiaris which he estimated at 10,000 men. He owns that he spoke on
that occasion more particularly in his own name, although lie felt confident that in
doing so he was voicing the wish of all the khans. He now says that all his relations
would welcome the advent of British military instructors in Bakhtiaristan, and would
also much like to see them take charge of the 300 men who are to remain at Tehran,
although they realise that it might be difficult to arrange this.
It will be seen from a perusal of a despatch that goes to you, Sir, by this bag that
the general political situation in Persia appears to me to be a very critical one, and that
there is, unfortunately, some reason to fear a recrudescence of troubles in the south,
whilst the recent incident at Tehran can hardly fail to produce no small amount of
excitement among Bakhtiaris. There are evident signs that, for various reasons,
Russian influence is growing apace at Ispahan, which may be looked upon to-day as a
Bakhtiari stronghold. The Bakhtiari Governor-General, Vice-Governor, and their
followers are daily made aware of the fact that Russia’s word is knv in Ispahan, and
that the voice of the British consul-general, in strict observance of the spirit of the
Anglo-Russian Convention, is no longer heard in a town in which British influence was
predominant three or four years ago. From Ispahan to Ahwaz, via the Bakhtiari
country, is not a far cry, and it would appear to me that, unless we speedily do some
thing to prove to the Bakhtiaris and the rest of Persia that we are faithful to our
ancient friendship for the tribesmen that can furnish the backbone of a strong natural
barrier between North Persia and that part of the country in which British interests
are still predominant, we shall find the wedge of Russian influence driven down to the
Karun by peaceful penetration under arms,Vis' my Russian colleague so aptly described
the position in the province of Azerbaijan the other day. No effort is needed on the
part of Russia. In scrupulous observance of our convention, w T e stand aside to-day
from all inteference in Ispahan. Under the circumstances, no one can be surprised if
the Bakhtiaris, on their return home from Tehran and Ispahan, tell their brethren that
the Russian is all-powerful in Persia to-day, and that the friendship of Great Britain,
as a valuable asset, is a thing of the past.
The placing of the large properties of the Zil-es-Sultan under the management of
the director of the Russian bank at Ispahan has doubtless been looked upon as a matter
of small importance, and full credence has been given to the assurances of
M. Poklewsky and others that the Russian Government took no part in the
transaction. Whether this is true or not makes no difference ; public opinion in
Persia recognises in it a fresh Russian move southwards, and M. von Haver, who has
placed armed men on all the properties, has succeeded in resisting the claims of such
an influential man as Samsam-es-Sultaneh to certain villages which he bought for a
song from a man who possibly had but a shadowy claim to them. If M. von Kaver
had not been a Russian he could not have resisted the claim of the former president of
the Council. It is not known at Ispahan
connection with the arrangement under
that the Russian Government disclaim ah
—witix tuc which the Zil’s lands were placed under
Russian protection, but it is known that M. von Kaver is reported to have said that he
was acting under the instructions of the legation. Perhaps he never said it; but
people in Ispahan .believe he did, a fact which speaks for itself.
Were it to be found desirable or feasible to lend the Bakhtiaris a few military
[1870 i/—10]

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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.' [‎28r] (60/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525713.0x00003d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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