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File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [209r] (422/522)
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.
Immediate.
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.
,
1st January 1912.
Sir,
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to forward, for the
information of the Secretary of State for b oreign Affairs, copy of a telegram
that has been received from the Government of India regarding the situation
created in Southern Persia by the attack on Mr. Vice-Consul Smart, and the
measures necessitated thereby.
It would seem that matters have now reached a point at which it is
impossible to take action in any direction without raising the whole question
of British policy in Persia. This is a question primarily for His Majesty’s
Government, and it is subject to this consideration that the following remarks
are offered.
I am first to observe that what appears to be of pressing importance is
the situation at Shiraz. Whatever may be done at Bushire in the way of
landing troops and seizing the customs, what has to be faced is the
probability that before the end of March Shiraz will be surrounded by
15,000 tribesmen in a fighting temper. The immediate objective of our
policy must, therefore, be to prevent a contingency that might threaten
Shiraz, Ispahan, and Aezd with a common disaster. The Government of
India are rightly opposed to the despatch to Shiraz of a battalion of infantry
and a mountain battery. The policy of sending small bodies of men through
highly disturbed country—to the danger of which attention has more than
once been called by this Office—has already been shown to be futile, and is
largely responsible for the present situation.
The alternative proposed by the Government of India is to hold Bushire
with a battalion until redress has been received from the Persian Govern
ment ; to send 5,000 men to Shiraz, in the event of its isolation; and to bring
away the detachments already there, the British Consul, and any British
subjects who may wish to come. Assuming that the policy of His Majesty’s
Government is still to maintain a strong and independent Persia, this
proposal has much that at first sight is attractive and that might seem to
counterbalance the grave disadvantages that must necessarily attend any
withdrawal. But on examination it appears itself to be attended by
disadvantages no less grave. In the first place it involves postponing
until Shiraz is actually in danger a measure which it will probably
take two months to carry out. In the second place, it involves the
occupation and partial administration of Bushire for an indefinite time. It
would be impossible to send the British Consul back to Shiraz and to
evacuate Bushire until the Persian Government had inflicted upon the
tribesmen that condign punishment which the Government of India
regard as a difficult and dangerous operation for 5,000 men of the
Indian Army. The Persian Government, even if they had a free hand,
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
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
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/336
- Title
- File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:15v, 17r:71v, 72v:258v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence