File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎168v] (341/566)

' 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 Bussorah and Mohammerah reports regarding the recent incident, His ^
Maiesty’s Government will feel able to enunciate some common lines of policy for the
guidance of our consuls at Bussorah 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. _ . , ? n ^ ^ ,
4 Since writing the above paragraphs, I have received a copy ot Consul Crows
despatch No. 35 of the 9th June, 1910, to His Majesty’s consul at 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 the 31st May, I am sending a
duplicate of Lieutenant Wilson’s report and of this letter to His Majesty’s Foreign
Office.
I have, &c.
P.
Z, COX, Lieutenant-Colonel, British Resident in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and His Britannic Majesty’s
Consul-General for Fars, &c.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Consul-General Cox to Acting Consul Wilson.
(No. 467.) _ _ . ,,0 imn
(Telegraphic.) P. Bushire, May o, 1910.
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 m
regard to the particular events or action which became the cause or pretext for the
vali’s recent proceeding, and in regard to the chronic grievances of the Bussorah
authorities against him for the alleged harbouring of offenders. His Majesty s
Government and Embassy have no exposition of the sheikh’s side of the question, but
have a case against Mohammerah based on Bussorah reports during the last few years.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Consul-General Cox to Acting Consul Wilson.
(No. 549.) .
(Telegraphic.) P. Bushire, May 25,
TUBKISH action at Mohammerah : Reference recent telegraphic correspondence.
Until I learn the views and wishes of His Majesty’s Government, I think it would
be better for me to defer going to Mohammerah.
Please make the sheikh some suitable explanation, and explain to him that it does
not appear to signify if his reply is delayed for a few days. _
You should go through with him the Turkish accusations against him, and record
fully what he has to say in reply to them and his version of the Bussorah-Mohammerah
question generally, for the information of Government. We have never had it horn
the sheikh himself.
As regards the co-operation required by the Turks, is there any particular item m
regard to which he is unable or unwilling to comply ? We must insist that he shall do
everything that is possible and reasonable in this direction. *
* Printed with Sir Gr. Lowther’s No. 452 of July 5, 1910 (see section 1, July 11 [248e8]).
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