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File 3136/1914 Pt 2 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎60r] (126/504)

The record is made up of 1 volume (248 folios). It was created in 1 Oct 1914-8 Dec 1914. It was written in English and French. 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. .

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COXFIDEXTTAL
U
N
Sir W. Townley to Sir Edward Grey .—{Received November 19, 3'55 a.m.)
Tehran, November 18, 1914.
(No. 311.) {November 18, 5 p.m.)
YOUR telegram No. 294 of 17th November.
Russian Minister had no instructions in the sense of Sir G. Buchanan’s telegram
No. G52 of last night. Persian Government has already protested officially to Russian
Legation and to Turkish Embassy against violation by their respective troops of
Pe i sian territory.
It would appear an open question as to which was the first aggressor.
Persian Government seem to be inclined to hold that, if Russia did not actually
invade Turkish territory through Azerbaijan before Turks entered Persian territory,
her action in increasing number of her troops in Persia, and in openly despatching :[
large force from Khoi towards the Van was evidence of intention to make use" 1 of
Persian territory for incursion into Turkey, whereas Turkish troops would appear not
to have actually entered Persia until Russians by moving out of Khoi left the road open
for them to get behind them, which they have done.
In a further note calling attention to the fact that, as was foreseen when Russia
was invited to withdraw her troops, Persian neutrality had been violated by both
parties, Russian Minister will be asked to put in writing certain verbal assurances that
he has given to the effect that action taken by Russia is in no sense reckoning on the
intention to violate Persian integrity, and that after the war is over indenendence of
Persia will be reaffirmed, Azerbaijan be re-evacuated, and compensation paid for
damage caused by hostilities on Persian soil.
I am convinced that in taking this step, which they say is considerably less
extensive in its aims than demands/ they have been advised by Russian Minister
himself to put forward, Persian Government are acting solely on their own initiative
and have not been animated by Turkish or other advisers. Members of Cabinet are of
opinion that it is in Persia’s best interests to maintain truly strict neutrality,
against violations of which they will protest impartially. Their sympathies are
certainly rather with us than against us, but they fear public opinion would disapprove
of open espousal of the cause of the two neighbours who alone can do them real harm or
real good.
Situation is and must remaii^- ^ most delicate , one. There is naturally a strono-
party with pro-Islamic tendencies, but I am given to understand [? that this] partv
has been losing ground of late before arguments put forward by strong and influential
clerical-political party that favours an alliance with us. The clerical section of this
party, with whom I am on friendly terms, has sent me spontaneous assurances that
during ensuring first ten days of Moharrem no pro-Turkish sermons will be preached,
and advantages of siding with us will be sedulously put before the people. Messages
have also been sent to Ulemas of Mespotamia and of Shiah faithfully telling them
programme of Persian Government, and that priests do not favour a Turkish policy,
and exhorting them not to preach holy war, of an intention to do which there have
been some signs at Mohammerah and Kermanshah.
So far situation is favourable, but any incident, such as a Turkish success or
some thoughtless treatment of a mullah by Russians, as has recently occurred at
Kermanshah, may inflame public opinion and turn people against us.
New Medjliss, which must be opened soon, may prove dangerous body, as it is
largely composed of priests. I have advised the Cabinet to arrange with present
majority, which is well-disposed, to so contrive matters that as soon as officers'of the
house have been chosen and committees formed, for which work will be found, house
shull vote itself holidays, so as not to remain permanently sitting.
(Repeated to Petrograd.)
¥
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[1101—OOu],

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Content

Papers concerning events in Mesopotamia and in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , leading up to and immediately after the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Turkey. The file is a chronological continuation of File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. & Persian Gulf’ (IOR/L/PS/10/462). Subjects covered include:

  • Concerns amongst British officials that Turkey will lay mines in the Shatt al-Arab.
  • Reports of the spreading of anti-British and pro-German propaganda by Turkish officials, including an undated manifesto (translated into English from Arabic) issued by an organisation called the Moslem Committee of Learned Men (ff 139-143).
  • British intelligence on the movements, actions and correspondence exchanged between the region’s most prominent rulers and key figures, including the former Governor (Wali) of Basra, Seyyid Talib [Saiyid Talib ibn Saiyid Rajab], the Emir of Najd and Al-Aḥsā, Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Turkish Minister of War, Ismail Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
  • Reports on public opinion amongst the Arab populations of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and proposed British propaganda measures, including plans to distribute copies of the Illustrated War News to the various rulers in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (ff 199-203).
  • The breaking-off of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Turkey on 30 October 1914.
  • Reports, submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox, Chief Political Officer of Indian Expeditionary Force D (IEFD), on the progress of IEFD at Basra, including reports of military action at Fao [Al-Fāw], (f 56, f 65, ff 67-68, ff 116-120, f 123).
  • The death of Captain Richard Lockington Birdwood, Assistant Political Officer to Cox, at Basra, on 17 November 1914 (ff 90-91).
  • Reports of anti-British propaganda and activities at Erzeroum [Erzurum], as reported by the city’s British Consul (ff 84-89, ff 103-104).
  • Proposals, including those set out in a letter written by Captain Arnold Talbot Wilson of the Indian Political Department, to the British Consul at Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], dated 28 November 1914 (ff 14-17) for Mesopotamia to become an Indian colony after the war.

The file’s principal correspondents include: the 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. (John Evelyn Shuckburgh; Edmund George Barrow; Arthur Hirtzel); the Foreign Office (Eyre Alexander Barby Wichart Crowe; Louis du Pan Mallet); the Chief Political Officer of IEFD (Percy Zachariah Cox).

The file includes a small number of copies of diplomatic exchanges between the British, Ottoman and Persian Governments ( notes verbale ), which are written in French.

Extent and format
1 volume (248 folios)
Arrangement

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

The subject 3136 (German War) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/462-467. The volumes are divided into 6 parts, with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 248; 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.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 3136/1914 Pt 2 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎60r] (126/504), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/463, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036675431.0x00007f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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