File 2902/1916 ‘Treaties and Engagements between the British Government and the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf’ [‎17v] (45/448)

4
notables of Basra with whom they are in close touch, and with the distant
co-operation of Bin Saud, could (if given certain assurances) either prepare the way
for our peaceful occupation of Basra, or, until we were in a position to take effective
action, arrange to keep the place quiet and isolated.
“ To the Sheikh of Mohammerah we should give the assurance already
sanctioned in connection with recent grant of decoration; undertaking to maintain
him in secure and untaxed possession of his date gardens on the Turkish side of
the river, and perhaps a promise to do our best vis-d-vis Persia to maintain him in
his present state of local autonomy.”
In accordance with this, the officiating Besident submitted to the Government of
India on the 14th September, 1914, the following draft of a special letter to the Sheikh
of Mohammerah, together with drafts of other notices (discussed in section (1) above),
to be despatched in the event of war between Great Britain and Turkey breaking
out (64214/14 : No. 1):—
“ I am authorised by my Government to request your Excellency to co-operate
with our honoured friends, their Excellencies the Amir of Nejd and the Sheikh of
Koweit, in the capture of Basra from the Turks ....
“ In return for this valuable co-operation, I am authorised by my Government
to assure your Excellency that in the event of our success—and succeed we shall,
insha Allah—Basra will never again be allowed to be subject to Turkish authority.
“ I am further to assure your Excellency personally, and do so by this writing,
that, whatever change may take place in the form of the Government of Persia,
and whether it be Boyalist or Nationalist, His Majesty’s Government will be
prepared to afford you the support necessary for obtaining a satisfactory solution
in the event of any encroachment by the Persian Government on your jurisdiction
and recognised rights, or on your property in Persia. These assurances are given
for yourself and for your successors from among your male descendants, and shall
hold good so long as you and they do not fail to observe your and their obligations
towards the Central Government (provided always that the nomination of your
successors from among your descendants shall be subject to confidential consultation
with and the approval of His Majesty’s Government), and so long as you and
they shall continue to be guided by the advice of His Majesty’s Government, and
to maintain an attitude satisfactory to that Government.
“Vis- d-vis the Persian Government, we shall do our best to maintain your
Excellency in your present state of local autonomy.
“ Further, your date gardens on the Turkish side of the Shatt-el-Arab shall
remain in full possession of you and your heirs, and for ever immune from
taxation.”
This draft was approved by the Government of India on the 26th September, 1914
(64214/14, No. 12), with the substitution of the words “ date gardens which you now
possess” for “ your date gardens ” in the last paragraph, and the omission of the words
“ for ever.”
In this emended form the letter was eventually delivered to the Sheikh on the
3rd November, 1914.
Later, after the occupationof Basra, Sheikh Khazal asked that the wording of the
letter should be revised again.
“ These assurances, in the form originally sanctioned by Government, con
tained a reference to the co-operation expected from the Sheikh in the event of
its being needed in connection with the capture of Basra. The Sheikh urged that
as occasion did not arise for the fulfilment of this obligation, it seemed somewhat
inconvenient and superfluous for it to be mentioned in a communication which
would become an important permanent record; he therefore begged for a revised
letter from which the passages relating to Basra should be omitted.”*
Accordingly Sir P. Cox, after obtaining the approval of the Viceroy, sent the
following document to Sheikh Khazal, dating it 22rd November, 1914, being the date,
on which Basra was occupied by the British forces :—
With reference to the assurances conveyed to your Excellency in my letter
dated the 15th October, 1910 (= 11th Shawwal, v 1328), and having regard to the
fuither valued services and co-operation which your Excellency has rendered to
Letter, dated Basra, 1st April, 1915, from Sir P. Cox to Government of
India, in 62555/15.