File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [‎63v] (131/522)

the payment out of the ;£ 15,000 of the expenses of the punitive expedition
against the robbers.
He argued that as the men to compose the permanent force cannot be
brought together before one month, it was not necessary to incur any expendi
ture for that period, and that the sum so saved out of the budget requirements
for the next three months would in consequence be available for the purposes
of the expedition.
I replied that it would not be possible to say whether any such savings
could be effected or not until details of a budget had been prepared, and that^I
was under the impression that any such small surplus as he was calculating on
would be swallowed up by the organization of the corps. Apart from this
however, which was only a matter of figures, I deprecated the use of any portion
of the ;£ 15,000 for any purpose of a special character, and told him in so many
words that in so doing 1 was acting under your orders.
I am told by the Deputy Governor that there are no provided funds from
which expenses of the expedition can be met, and that Tehran had made no
special grant for the purpose. If no other funds are available for the purpose,
it will I fear be necessary to break into the £15,000. There is no saying what
expenditure such punitive measures may involve or how long they might last. I
do not yet know what the Governor-General's estimate of the cost may be, but as
soon as Hearn it I will telegraph again. In the meanwhile, 1 beg to suggest that
the Persian Government should be asked themselves to arrange funds for such
special disbursements as may be necessitated by the Governor-General’s proposed
operations.
Addressed Tehran, repeated Bushire as No. 67.
Enclosure No.
Telegram P., No. 219, dated (and received) 26th December 1912.
From—His Majesty’s Consul, Shiraz,
-His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
I have the honour to address you in continuation of my telegram No. 213
in regard to the question of arms for the proposed military force.
Some time ago 1,500 carbines and 500,000 rounds of ammunition arrived
at Bushire for the use of the men of the gendarmerie, and a small force of
gendarmes under Major Noren Brandel with another officer has gone to Bushire
to bring up such portion of them as the gendarmerie here require, and also
recruits amounting to about 100 men whom the Governor of the Gulf Ports has
enlisted. Major Brandel arrived at Bushire some days ago with his party.
Major Siefvert tells me that the gendarmes will only require 600 of these
1,500 carbines, and his plan at present is to leave the rest (900) at Bushire.
Mukhber-es-Sultaneh however wishes to get hold of these 900 carbines for
his new force, but as far as I can gather, has made no proposal to this effect to
Siefvert and only knows from me what Siefvert's plans are. The latter on the
other hand, has told me that as the arms are destined for the gendarmerie he
cannot hand them over to anyone else. There is thus a prospect of a deadlock
in the matter, and I have suggested to the Governor-General that he should
discuss the matter frankly with Siefvert, in the first place, and that then, if the
latter does not agree with his proposal, he should address the Persian Govern
ment by telegraph on the subject, asking them to arrange the question with the
Commandant of the gendarmerie. I trust that matter will be arranged in this
way, and I only mention it in case reference should be made to you on the
subject at the capital. J
tll , t ;/; k "d reqU '^ d lmmedlate| y b y ‘he gendarmerie, it is clear
that it is best that the Persian Government should hand them over to the Gover-
nor-General, who ,s m urgent need °f them, and should obtain others for the
gendarmes, should such a course be indicated.