File 3516/1914 Pt 9 'German War: Persia' [‎192r] (388/618)

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Dashti, Daslitistan, Chahkutah and Tangistan, who have for some time past
united m obed.ence to the decrees of the High Ulema for the preservation of
the realms of Islam have attacked the British Consulate-General at Bushire
Although they were bemg constantly fired at from the sea and land, they did
not fear death and attacked so enthusiastically in the cause of the preserv
ation of the Sacred Law that two officers and five Indian sowars were killed
their arms were carried away ; other numbers of the killed and wounded in the
sangars of the enemy are unknown. The volunteers had no casualties and
returned to their places according to the order of the Commander.
According to a telegram from Borasjun the artillery fire of the British
continues on the place wnere the volunteers were. It is believed that, if the
Government take action immediately to bring the Germans back and expel
the Bngiish, this matter will not take long and it will be in the interests of the
English.
Enclosure No. 4.
Telegram.
Extract from the “ Tazianeh ”, No. 24, dated Shiraz, 6th Eamzan 1333
(19th July 1915).
To
His Excellency the Governor-General of Ears.
Copies to the Kazeruni Mujtahid, Agha Sayyed Jafar, Agha Shaikh Jafar,
Agha Shaikh Murteza, Agha Shaikh Muhsin, the Qawam-ul-Mulk, the
Supreme Court of Justice, the Gendarmerie Department, the “ Jam-i-Jam
the “ Tazianeh ”, the Socialist Moderates, and the holy committee of the
Democrats, Shiraz.
With a view to preserving the prestige of Islam and independence of the
dominions of Persia and to blocking the paths for the pretexts and intrigues
of the foreigners and to the delicate position of neutrality merely for the sake
of God, we volunteered to make peace between the Khans of Dashtistan and
we made up our minds at Kazerun to remove by whatever means the
antagonism on both sides and to get them to conclude peace and unite
sincerely with each other, and to guard against the critical situation, and to
get them to assist in the execution of the Governments orders.
We divided ourselves in two parties, and some of us visited the Ghazanfar-
us-Sultaneh, while the other one, the Chief one, visited Ismail Khan. We
made a truce of hostilities for the time being. We were first under the im
pression that the flame of the trouble was perhaps actuated by a desire on the
part of both parties to acquire each other’s territories. After obtaining full
information regarding the geography of the territories of both sides, we put
forward the terms of peace. Indeed Agha Khan and Ghazanfar-us-Sultaneh
<and the other Khans allied with them accepted them, and showed themselves
ready to unite with each other and not to allow the intrigues of foreigners to
shake the neutrality of the Persian Government.
Although Ismail Khan at first was ready to make peace, hut unfortunate
ly Muhammad Khan of Haiat Daud, who had come with his forces under
instructions from Haidar Khan to assist him, seduced the latter with the help
of Mr. Cox, and his own co-operation. He ignored our peaceful measures and
sincere efforts and refused to make peace. The poor tool has been won over
by the force of the rifles and ammunition of the Dritish. VY e did not at all
lose any opportunity to effect peace, but to our regret it had no effect and we
have now arrived at Borasjun in despair.
The Ghazanfarr-us-Sultaneh showed due hospitality to us. It is necessary
for us to bring to the notice of the Government authoiities what we have
learnt of the “ philosophy ” of this dispute. It is our conviction frpm^ the
outward and inward signs of the fighiing that Haidar Khan and Ismail Khan
have no other object than the furtherance ol the objects of the foieigners in the
South. And if (jhazanfar-us^Sultaneh and Agha Khan fall in with them in
ffieir policy of worshiping foreigners, they wi4 not spare tueii assistance.