File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎149v] (303/566)

The Porte could hardly have selected a better opportunity for giving
practical expression to this policy than the present occasion. Nazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had
just arrived at Baghdad with large powers and a flourish of trumpets. At Basrah
they had recently replaced an Arab Governor ^ by an assertive *' Young Turk ”,
Their gunboat “ Marmaris ” was in working trim.
In the other camp the juncture found Sheikh Khazal in bad odour with a
Cabinet at Tehran, dominated by a Bakhtyari Chief also anxious, both for
personal and tribal reasons, to harm the Sheikh and reduce his power. It was
even suggested, you will remember, that the Persian Government or Majlis had
been previously approached and squared before the attack on the Sheikh’s village
took place.
Lastly, the instrument selected by the Wall was an excellent one for the
purpose, owing to his personal importance as a tribal leader and to his close
relations with Sheikh Khazal. The Wali must have known very well that he
could not expect such a man to submit to arrest by a handful of gendarmes ;
just as he knew well enough that it was not possible for the Sheikh to hand over
his own tribal elder and brother-in-law to the Basrah police. This mere fact no
doubt supplied the necessary pretext for the use of the “ Marmaris
The Wali’s own behaviour since the incident is quite in harmony with the
above theory. He was cordially welcomed by Nazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. at Baghdad, and so
far from proving amenable to any influence, or persuasion applied by Mr. Crow
in order to induce him to express regret to the Sheikh, he almost indignantly
rejected his overtures and refused to entertain at all the question of
personal amends on the ground that he had only acted under instructions
and there had been nothing personal in the matter.
But, whether the Zain incident was a personal vagary of the Wall’s, or a
premeditated plan emanating from the Porte, the fact remains I submit, that it is
our interest and our policy to maintain the Sheikh of Mohammerah in his position
as a powerful Arab Ruler at the head of the Gulf. So sure as we do not, our
own position will suffer with his, and damage to his influence and well-being will
react upon the prosperity of our commercial stake in his territory.
I cannot see, therefore, that we have any object to serve in encouraging
assertion of “ national rights ” on the part of the Turks, and I venture to hope
that, after considering the Basrah and Mohammerah reports regarding the recent
incident, His Majesty’s Government will feel able to enunciate some common
lines of policy for the guidance of our Consuls at Basrah and Mohammerah, by
the joint pursuit of which they will be able to keep the Turkish authorities and
the Sheikh within constitutional bounds, and, by doing so, will jointly safeguard
our position and great interests at the head of the Gulf.
4. Since writing the above paragraphs, I have received a copy of the
Basrah No.60, dated 9th June 1910. marginally cited letter from His Majesty s
. Consul, Basrah, to His Majesty’s Consul,
Mohammerah, and forward a copy thereof for your information. With reference
to the postcript appended to the enclosure, I also enclose with it a copy of
Lieutenant Wilson’s letter on which Mr. Crow’s quotation of him is based.
As directed in your telegram No. 131, dated 31st May, lam sending a
duplicate of Lieutenant Wilson’s report and of this letter to His Majesty’s
Foreign Office,
Telegram P., No. 467 , dated the 8 th May 1910 .
From—The 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. , Bushire,
To—His Majesty’s Consul, Mohammerah.
Please ascertain from the Sheikh himself, as soon as you are in a position
to do so, and forward with your own views, a brief exposition of his side of the
case both in regard to the particular events or action which became the cause or
pretext for the VVali’s recent proceeding, and in regard to the chornic grievances