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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.' [‎115r] (234/566)

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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was for him to keep his followers from causing disorders on Turkish territory,
and not to conceal or protect criminals,
Acting Vali to Mr. Crow, May 8. ^ escaped from Xurkey t0 Mohammerah,
but to hand them over to justice. He wanted nothing more.
This seems a reasonable attitude, and I told Haji Reiss so. He quite agreed
and said the Persians were ready to do that.
As reported in my telegram No. 24 of May 9th, the Vali emphasized his
desire to effect a reconciliation with the Sheikh, without the intervention of a
third party, meaning the Consulate. He also said he was willing to accept the
Shaikh’s sole assurances in regard to the preservation of order and the surrender
of criminals.
Ha'i Reiss then told the Acting Vali that the Sheikh would carry out
this undertaking as regards the future, and asked what the Turks required in
regard to pending questions.
1. The Menawee incident. Three persons, out of six asked for by the Turks,
were actually under arrest at Mohammerah and would be handed over, and they
were looking for the others.
2. The murder of Chelmeran. The Persians regretted his death as much as
the Turks, as he has been a friend of theirs and was useful to them, and, if the
murderer, who is known, was in Arabistan, he would be arrested by the Sheikh
and given up, or, if they ascertained that he was on Turkish territory, they would
inform the Vali of his whereabouts.
3. The case of Muhammad Chanan. For reasons already stated the
Sheikh could not surrender Chanan. The Acting Vali proposed, as a compromise,
that the Sheikh should remove him from Zein and not jet him return to Turkey
and appoint another agent in his place. Haji Reiss said that was all very well
now but the Turks ought to have made that proposal before bombarding the
Sheikh’s property. The Acting Vali admitted it would have been the better
course. Haji Reiss said he would induce the Sheikh to agree to this solution,
but he must consult him, and, in the meantime, the Acting Vali was to communi
cate the proposal to the Vali for his approval.
On May 8th Haji Reiss received private information that orders had reached
Shamil Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the military commandant at Basrah, to arrest him, and that he
should at once return to Mohammerah as soldiers were already sent out to catch
him. I said l did not believe the Turks were capable of such a breach of faith,
but as a precaution, I would send a cavass with him when he went to the Acting
Vah, and I gave him a letter, copy enclosed, to hand to the latter. It was after
wards discovered that the information was merely given in order to frighten
Haji Reiss away, and so break up the negotiation, and that there was no founda
tion for it. Haji Reiss declined to give me the name of his informant but, as
he had been calling on that morning Seyyed Tahb, who arrived by the Russian
steamer “ Tigre ” on May 8th, I surmise the information must have come trom
him- . . u t 1
Haji Reiss was very anxious I should say something specific to the Turks
about the Sheikh’s assurances from the British Government. I told him I saw
no advantage in using such an argument, at all events at present, and I said 1
gave the Acting Vali clearly to understand, in my interview with him on May stn,
that His Majesty’s Government attached great importance to a settlement locally
and feared complications if it were not effected, as we had considerable interests
of a commercial nature in Arabistan. I added that the Turks were quite inte h-
gent enough to perceive that the Sheikh himself was one of those interests, and
that we were protecting him ipso facto by our intervention at the present juncture.
It seemed a pitv, I said, to use a big nail, which might split the plank, when a
tintack would do the work, Haji Reiss also consulted me as to what action the
Persians should take in regard to the two official communications addressed by
the Vali to the Persian Consul-General at Basrah on April 26ch, making direct
accusations against the Sheikh, and covertly threatening to attack Moham-
merah. I replied that my advice was to pigeonhole the letters and send no
answer at all. I feared any reply might lead to an acrimonious correspondence

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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.' [‎115r] (234/566), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/133, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030525714.0x000023> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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