Skip to item: of 522
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [‎53v] (111/522)

The record is made up of 1 volume (259 folios). It was created in 1912-1913. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

The general political situation in South Persia seems to me, therefore, in no
way altered by this last attack and no change of policy on the part of His Majes
ty’s Government is necessarily called for. If the exaction by themselves of
retribution was not considered necessary by His Majesty’s Government in the
case of the deliberate and sustained attack on one of their Consuls and his
escort, which resulted in some loss of life, nor for any of the subsequent attacks
made on their officers, then no feature of special atrocity is presented by this
last attack which would necessitate a change of policy now.
Of course the death of Captain Eckford gives this last outrage a special
significance which, fortunately, does not attach to previous incidents, but it was
merely a fortunate chance which might just as well have occurred in the case of
other officers who have been assaulted at various times. I consider there
fore that there is no reason why this last assault should necessitate His Majes
ty’s Government sending an expedition into the country to restore order, unless
it is now considered desirable in view of repeated outrages and of the generally
disturbed condition of Southern Persia.
The policy of His Majesty’s Government, as I understand it, is to maintain
the existing form of Government, as long as possible, and it is with this object
in view that you have secured the appointment as Governor-General of Pars of
the best Persian official obtainable, who is being financed, and otherwise sup
ported in the difficult task of trying to restore order in his province, by His
Majesty’s Government. The experiment is in the nature of a forlorn hope, but
if His Majesty’s Government desire to persevere in their policy I am aware of
no special reason why they should now depart therefrom.
The question having been raised, however, I venture with great respect to
invite your attention to the broad facts of the case, as they present themselves
to me.
It is notorious that the whole of this part of Persia is virtually closed and
for some time has been a state of anarchy, which tends to increase rather than
diminish as time goes on. His Majesty’s Government are actually financing
the Government of Ears with a view to restoring order and protecting their
interests, and are retaining a more or less effective control of the money which
has been lent in this connection. This being so, it seems clear that His Majesty’s
Government have undertaken very definite responsibilities in Southern Persia,
and that, should they desire to make their present policy successful, to restore
order under a Persian Governor, and eventually withdraw their cavalry regiment,
without being obliged to send a large expedition into the country, they must be
prepared to face the necessity of adopting a more definite and more decided line
of policy than they are now pursuing. I refer to the military force, which the
Governor-General proposes to raise, as I have already reported.
As indicated in my telegram No. 198, I regard the method proposed in
your telegram No. 171 for the control of the £15,000 lent for use in Ears to
the Persian Government as unlikely to prove effective. The Consul can only
retain a nominal control of the expenditure once the money has actually passed
into the hands of the Ears administration. We have no security that funds will
not be maladministered, whatever budgets or projects the Governor-General
may produce. The Einance Agent is the only person who can really control
expenditure, and what I hear of the character and past record of Monsieur Stas,
he does not inspire me with much confidence. The Mukhbir’s dislike and dis
trust of all Belgians has already been reported to you.
Secondly.—Possibility of Governor-General being able to raise adequate
military force.
I consider the -whole problem depends on this, for without force the Gover
nor-General is helpless. Given the money, I believe a force, and a good force,
■could be raised, but that this could be done by Persians alone I do not believe.
The Governor-General himself has doubts on this point, I think, for in reply to
my question as to the qualifications of his Persian officers he hinted that he
might find it necessary to ask for the services of one of the Swedish or British
officers here to supervise the new organization.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and reports relating to an attack by Bakhtiari tribesmen on a party of the 39th Central India Horse regiment and the killing of a British officer. The discussion in the volume relates to the implications for the British relationship with the Persian Government and options for restoring British prestige including use of military force.

Included in the volume (folios 12-16) is a copy of the 'Report of an attack on a party of the 39th Central India Horse on the 11th December 1912. Resulting in the death of Captain A. B. Eckford' (Delhi, Superintendent Government Printing, Delhi, 1913).

Principal correspondents include: 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. , Percy Zachariah Cox; the Viceroy; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey; the Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office; HM Minister to Tehran, Sir George Head Barclay, Commanding Officer, 39th King George's Own Central India Horse.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (259 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 259; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [‎53v] (111/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/336, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035280627.0x000070> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035280627.0x000070">File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [&lrm;53v] (111/522)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035280627.0x000070">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000e7/IOR_L_PS_10_336_0111.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000e7/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image