File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎207r] (418/566)

Enclosure in No. 1.
Consul Crow to Sir G. Lowther.
(No. 22.)
gi r Bussorah, April 23, 1910.
AS a result of the good understanding between the vali of Bussorah and Sheikh
Khazal of Mohammerah, the latter, some three months ago, promised to aid the Turkish
authorities to preserve the peace in this vilayet, and to hand over criminals from
Turkish territory who sought refuge in the sheikh’s domains. Khazal also undertook
not to let disturbers of the peace cross the river to Turkey. Last month robbers
attacked a house at Menawee, a village close to this consulate. It was reported to the
authorities that one of the robbers was a servant of Mirza Hamza, the sheikh’s agent
at Bussorah, that he had fled to Mohammerah, and that the sheikh declined to
give him up.
On the 2nd April, Kassim Chelmeran, proprietor of the local newspaper “ Idhar el
Hakk,” was killed by his labourers at Ajerawiye, a few miles below this consulate on
the opposite side of the river, in Turkish territory, and the murderers sought refuge at
Mohammerah. These people were not handed over to the _ Turkish authorities.
Besides these, it is reported that there are many criminals, fugitives from justice, at
Mohammerah, and when Sheikh Khazal is asked to give them up he denies their
presence there. Wb had similar grounds of complaint against the authorities at
Mohammerah m connection with the Maghil case, and the minder of Mi. Gdanville
in 1906, as your Excellency will see from the correspondence on the subject.
Last month Mohammed Bey el Moshree applied to the Turkish authorities in the
usual way to remove certain fellahs Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. from his property at Dowasir. The authorities
tried to carry out the orders given for their removal, but without success, and the
trespassers were supported m their opposition to the local authorities by one,
Mohammed el Chinan, who, with his followers, lies at Zein, on Turkish territory.
The vali sent the Tabour Agassi with fifteen gendarmes to arrest Mohammed el Chenan.
This they were not able to do, and were informed in answer to their demands that all
the people there belonged to Sheikh Khazal, and were unable to come to Lussorah,
and if the arrest was insisted on, the agent of Mohammed Bey el Moshree, at Dowasir,
would be killed m the same manner as Kassim Ohelmeian. The .labour Agassi
returned to Bussorah and informed the vali accordingly. Mohammed Chinan seems to
have applied to Sheikh Khazal for protection, and when the latter was requested by
the vali to hand Chinan over, as he was an Ottoman subject residing on Turkish
territory, the sheikh refused to do so, contending that the man belonged to him.
On the 18th April, however, Sheikh Khazal brought up Mohammed Chinan with him
in his yacht as a guest to Bussorah, and wished to call on the vali with him and
discuss the affair. But the vali refused to see either Khazal or Chinan, and demanded
that the latter should be handed over in the usual way, and if this were done, he
would be pleased to receive the sheikh. Sheikh Khazal then returned to Mohammerah
with his guest, and relations with Bussorah are somewhat strained in consequence.
Mirza Hamza left shortly afterwards for Mohammerah.
[2744 z—13]
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[18151]
[May 23.]
No. 1.
Section 13.
[A,'
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received May 23.) 3 5 7
(No. 318.)
gj r Constantinople, May 18, 1910.
I HA VE the honour to forward herewith a despatch from His Majesty’s consul
at Bussorah, in regard to the strained relations existing between the Sheikh of
Mohammerah and the Turkish authorities, and to the course of events which have
brought about this state of affairs.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
/