File 3516/1914 Pt 9 'German War: Persia' [‎288v] (581/618)

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steM he may take to protect them are represented as heins taken in Anglo-
Bussian interests. He is therefore object of constant attack by strong pro*
German elements in Mejlis and the Press.
“Russian retirement in Galicia has had its effect at this moment.
“ Russian Minister and I nevertheless see nothing better than to support
him, as any other Cabinet would probably be worse and not better than the
present one.
“ Persians will not, I think, join the enemy intentionally, but the danger
is that these parties of German agents are so powerful that they cannot without
actual fighting be arrested for which no Persian Cabinet cares to be responsible,
German °Consul, Ispahan, is said to have 200 retainers; while in one or two
instances parties number 50 or more armed men with probablv a machine gun.
Mission to Afghanistan will therefore possibly be able to reach its destination,
while others will succeed in Kerman in producing there the same state of things
that made it possible for the Russian Bank Manager to be murdered. To
authorise His Majesty’s Consul to recruit guards for themselves would be use*
less, as such action would tend to precipitate a serious incident, such as Germans
seem to be seeking to bring about and I can only suggest that in informing
the Government of Persia of intention of the two Governments to grant
them advances a very strong warning should be conveyed to them by us of
the dangers they are running and it should be clearly stated that for any
untoward results that may be caused by their supineness there or in the
neighbouring countries, Persia will be held to account. Repeated to Petrograd
and Basrah.”
Sent to Bushire and India.
Telegram P., No. 180? B., dated the 25th (received 26th) June 1915.
From—The Hon’ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.T.
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. , Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please refer to my immediately preceding telegram. Hollowing from
Minister 208, repeated Bushire, Horeign. Your telegram Ho. 140.
“ Ispahan situation. There are certainly disquieting elements in the
situation. Centre of Germau activities has been transferred from Tehran to
Ispahan since the arrival of Russian troops at Kasvin and four or five
German agents,^ with perhaps thirty Austrian soldiers, prisoners escaped
from Trans-Caspia vid^ Meshed, and as many as 200 armed retainers recruited
locally and from Naib Hussein’s brigands are now at Ispahan. Possibly
German plan is to attack Russian and British Consulate, &c., in the hope that
Russian troops will be sent to Ispahan and that eventually Persia will eet
embroiled m the war in this way. At present Persian Government have about
410 gendarmerie m Ispahan and more are to be sent from Fars. New
Governor-General, Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. -i-Ashjaan, whom Russian Legation believe 'can be
trusted, has a considerable force of Bakhtiari sowars at his disposal. Persian
Government has sent orders that German retainers are to be disarmed and there
should be no danger if Swedish officers have their men in hand and are sup
ported by Governor-General. However, rank and file of gendarmerie and also
and more particularly native officers of that force are reported to^ verv pro
German m their views while at time of Russian demand far rile™; i r o
Mohtashem attitude of Bakhtiaris generally was decidedly definnf SSa V f p Sai ^ ar
hold on new Governor-General so "far asVL ^ E “
personal relations with Evreinoff It was nr) tw C0 f sist ? ln his
Legation agreed to his appointment as Mohtashem^° suce^ 11 7 nussi ™
personally the withdrawal of Consuls which would he a si^n of de ^ te
Moreover with them colony and teleoranh a gu of weakness,
leave also. To stimulat/ GovernSne^s t0
should be seat to Ispahan with a good supply of money. 8 Unk Evremo ®