![File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎13r] (34/672)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x000165/IOR_L_PS_10_462_0034.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎13r] (34/672)")
File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [13r] (34/672)
The record is made up of 1 volume (332 folios). It was created in 20 Jun 1914-25 Oct 1914. 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.
12
i?
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, 17th October 191.4.
^ Private. My private telegram of 25th August. Public statement as to
Turkev. Following modifications should be made in text. In first para
graph omit word “ has ” between words “ Breslau ” and “ aroused.’ At end
of third paragraph after words “ shipping collected there add following :
.. mi i in i c n rl to rlofianoA nt int.Arnati on a treatv.
of the Ottoman ^Empire ” omit word “have” between “ His Majesty’s
Government” and “not only intimated,” and make consequential^ gram
matical alterations. Immediately before final paragraph beginning Grea
Britain, the greatest Mohammedan Power ’ insert following new para
graph :—
“ In spite of these assurances the attitude of Turkey towards Great
Britain became increasingly provocative. Evidence continued to reach is
Maiestv’s Government of military preparations in Syria which could have
had no' other purpose than to facilitate an attack on Egypt, and of active
propaganda carried on by Turkish and German agents among the Bedouin
Arabs in regions adjoining the Egyptian frontier. ^ Similar intrigues were
set on foot elsewhere and reports were even received of the despatch of
Turkish emissaries to India with the object of stirring up anti-British
feelings among Indian Mohammedans.
[Following ^paragraph is only to be included in published statement on
receipt by you of tetegram direct from Cheetham, Cairo, who has been
instructed by Foreign Office to let you know whether ^ he concu ™
publication;] Striking illustration ol extent to which intrigues have bee
carried on is furnished by the case of a German employe in Alexandria Utp
Police who lately returned from leave via Constantinople, saying that le
had been excused from military service He was arrested on suspicion on
landing, and on his person were found a detailed map oi Suez Cana , c
sheet of numbered cypher messages concealed m his tarboosh and othei
compromising correspondence. He had also entrusted to member of ship
company two boxes of detonators for exploding dynamite and mtro-g.ycerme.
[End of conditional paragraph.]
[Statement continues] “Further, a steady stream of German ofiicers anc
men, both naval and military, together with all kinds of war material, has
flowed unceasingly into Constantinople, winch has been converted to a
mients and purposes into a German military base. German ofiiceis are
known to have’penetratecl far into the interior of Turkish Emp.re m the
endeavour to stir up agitation against Great Biitain and_ hei AJ e ; . -
these movements, it is impossible to doubt, have been carried out v it i a,
direct cLnivanc; of the Ottoman Authorities, and can point to only one
conclusion.” > 1 11t
His Majesty’s Government do not consider that moment nas actually
arrived for publication of statement. But situation is most critical, ana
Your Excellency should be prepared to take action at any moment. 1 cure
repeat alterations in text to Townley at Teheran.
About this item
- Content
Papers concerning diplomatic tensions between the British and Ottoman Governments at the outset of the First World War, including social unrest and military/naval movements in Baghdad, Basra, and the Shatt al-Arab. The volume’s papers were produced prior to the Ottoman Ruler Sultan Mehmed V’s declaration of war on Britain, France and Russia on 11 November 1914. The papers cover:
- The activities of Seyyid Talib [Saiyid Talib ibn Saiyid Rajab], former Governor (Wali) of Basra, in June 1914, including his attack on Basra and occupation of Zobeir [Zubayr].
- Reports of growing anti-British sentiment at Basra and Baghdad, and proposals to evacuate British women and children from the area in the event of war with Ottoman Turkey.
- Diplomatic exchanges between the British and Ottoman Governments, over the presence of British vessels (in particular HMS Odin ) in the Shatt al-Arab, and in international waters off the coast of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr].
- Interruptions to British steamship services at Basra and Baghdad, particularly those of the Euphrates & Tigris Steam Navigation Company, as a result of Ottoman actions that include the requisitioning of coal at Basra.
- British officials’ concerns over the status of Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s operations at Abadan, including the reluctance of vessels to travel up to the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to Abadan, and the British Government’s assurances that vessels travelling to Abadan and Mohammerah would be covered by War Insurance.
- British officials’ concerns over rumours that the Ottoman Navy plans to mine the Shatt al-Arab.
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 Viceroy of India (Charles Hardinge); 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. (Major Stuart George Knox).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (332 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 for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 330; 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 front and back covers, along with the leading flyleaf and ending flyleaf, have not been foliated.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [13r] (34/672), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/462, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038229189.0x000023> [accessed 13 May 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100038229189.0x000023
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_100038229189.0x000023">File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎13r] (34/672)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100038229189.0x000023"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x000165/IOR_L_PS_10_462_0034.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000419.0x000165/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/462
- Title
- File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:13v, 14v:18v, 20r:46v, 49r:51v, 52v, 53v:66v, 68r:138r, 139r, 140v:176v, 178r:189v, 191r:211v, 215r:215v, 218r:218v, 222r:226v, 229r:330v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence