File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎157r] (322/672)

-y_ ,
India, Foreign Secretary's n ^
No ^5 M, dated
37 AUO 191^
/
Telegram P., dated the 11th (received the 12th) 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 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. , Baghdad, v
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
I have despatched the following telegram to His Britannic Majesty’s
Ambassador at Constantinople and repeated to Basrah :—“ Political situation at
Baghdad. Since the outbreak of war a week ago the Baghdad Army Corps
has begun mobilisation. This was commenced by the posting of placards on
the walls calling reservists up to the 45th year to military duty. Simul
taneously the War Office refused to accept any cypher telegrams between
Consuls and their Embassies. Only Brench and Turkish messages were
received after having been censored. A considerable degree of resentment
against this mobilisation exists among the population. Official Turkish
circles are openly pro-German and they are striving to utilise this resentment
to excite the population against England and Bussia.
“ The normal population of Mesopotamia is, however, very pro-English.
“ The placarding and distribution of a really dangerous appeal to Moslems,
written by Djavid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , as Inspector of the Eourth Inspectorate to himself
as Yali, inviting Moslems, inter alia> to unite against these Powers, who in
every instance are devoid of all pity towards Muhammadans, was fortunately
just prevented in time by my Russian and Erench colleagues and myself.
<« That an abnormal condition exists in town has not been intimated to any
Consulate, yet a state of sffie is in force and martial law has been proclaimed.
«« The rights of domicile of British subjects have been violated since the
military authorities entered the garden and stable of a British subject and
seized his horses.
“ As already reported by me on the 8th August, the military authorities
had seized mules, horses and even cloth belonging to British subjects all over
the Vilayet. In every case they have done so without payment and in the
majority of instances without the grant of a receipt. This Consulate-General
had no knowledge of all these personal acts. A protest has now been made
by me, both verbally and in writing, claiming that as this Consulate General
is officially ignorant of the existence of any unusual conditions at Baghdad and
has not been asked to assist at requisitions, pending the receipt of instructions
from Your Excellency, I hold the Yali responsible for all losses and claims for
damages.
“ The Turkish Government hope to raise 80,000 men at Basrah and Baghdad
and another 80,000 at Musal (Mosul?;. This, however, is very doubtful. It
is said that troops are to be divided between Eryinjam, Basrah and Khamkm.
I learn secretly that, excited by German intrigues, Turkish ambitions hope for
a rising of the Moslems in Egypt, India and tbe Caucasus.
“ The reservists are sorry immigrants lacking clothing, shoes and food. It
will take more than a week yet for the mobilization of the first battalion to be
completed. No cypher telegrams are being accepted here in spite of Your
Excellency’s representations. This telegram has been sent from Baghdad on
the 9th August by secret messenger to Kermanskah.
“ Postscript. 11 P. M., 10th August 1914. Yali has now announced that
cypher messages will be accepted. The stables of the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company were entered by the Police this evening, who seized 76 mules m
spite of the written protest which I made yesterday. No receipt has been
given for the mules taken.
“The Manager of a British firm was also called upon by the Police to-day
at his private residence and was requested by them to appear at the police
station with the keys of all his warehouses. Be refused their request and,
having sealed his warehouse, sent his keys to me for custody.
“ If Your Excellency could persuade Porte to insist on local authorities
adoptin 0 * genuine neutral attitude, the situation here would immediately
improve. Although there is a certain amount of cursing by population
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