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File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎139r] (286/672)

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. .

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3
£ 0 -
Telegram P., No. 1 M. 3 dated (and received) the 29th August 1914.
;p rom —Majors Knox and Trevor, Mohammerah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
There is a report, to which credence may be attached, that 2,000 Turkish
soldiers have arrived at Basrah to-day from Baghdad. This news has dis
tinctly perturbed the Sheikh of Mohammerah and he is in conjunction with
Riparian owners clamouring for ships to transport his date crops. Lyle has
telegraphed reminder to Bombay regarding despatch of steamers to Moham
merah. He says, however, that the risk mentioned in our telegram No. 642 S.
of 27th instant cannot be accepted by the local agent. I consider the risk
involved to be small and it is, in my opinion, important to reassure our friend
here by sending the ships.
I should be glad if British India Steam Navigation Company’s head office
at Calcutta could send instructions to their local agent at Bushire, by telegraph,
to accept the risk involved. I am of the opinion that the despatch of steamers
to Mohammerah might relieve the situation at Basrah, which has, from reports
received from the Consul, been easier of late. A forecast of the effect of
despatch of the 2,000 Turkish troops in question is at present impossible.
Addressed Poreign and repeated Admiral.
Telegram R., No. 1039, dated (and received) the 30th August 1914.
From—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. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Local Agent Grey Paul received following from Ellerman and
Bucknall:— Begins. Government ban on Turkish ports except Dardanelles
removed, therefore “ Amatonga ”, if Resident concurs, may proceed to Basrah.
Ends. I have received no official intimation as yet to concur in despatch to
Basrah but I have recommended her proceed to Mohammerah accepting slight
risk involved. As regards Basrah, I would recommend that matter should
be decided by Consul, Basrah, as I gather Yali’s attitude was very correct.
Customs and town feeling generally was unsatisfactory and general impression
there amongst Europeans was that it would do Turks and especially Arab date
garden owners no harm to realise what interruption of fiiendly relations with
us letting alone war would mean to them. Germans were being given, it was
reported, customs facilities and their clerks were being left untouched while
our merchant offices were being harassed. Recommend Consul should not
remove ban until satisfied that all nationalities are being treated with
scrupulous impartiality and should not hesitate to let Turks and others know
that these are his instructions. Restriction against telegraphing m cypher
might be removed.
Telegram P., No. 1042, dated (and received) the 30th August 1914.
From—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. , Bushire,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
A satisfactory acknowledgment from Katar of the announcement of the
outbreak of war between Great Britain and the German Empire has been
received by me. He expresses the wish that the British may be victorious.
I have repeated this message to the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
Telegram R., No. 1049, dated (and received) the 31st August 1914.
From—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. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Eollowing from Minister, dated 30th August '.—Begins. Please repeat to
me Viceroy of India’s-telegram of 21 st August respecting the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Ends, I have complied.

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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
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File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎139r] (286/672), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/462, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038229191.0x000057> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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