File 3360/1916 Pt 2 'Persian correspondence. (1917-18)' [‎309r] (622/678)

*
ll
a crowd of agents and their success in working with reckless extremists. To
guard against this we are endeavouring to win over such a body of public
opinion amongst the moderate democrats in favour of good relations with
us as will make that coup impossible. For this purpose His Majesty’s
Government are prepared to give assurances calculated to reassure the
^ democrat leaders as to our friendliness, those assurances being connected with
future of South Persia Rides, the 1907 Convention, the revision of the Customs
tariff and the participation of Persia in the Peace Conference {vide, my tele
gram 23).
2. Shah has no consistent attitude. He is in a state of abject fear, and is
remitting his savings to Europe. The Cabinet which Mustaufi-ul-Mamalek is
forming will contain no anti-democratic elements and will thus be well suited
as means to proclaim the democrat party’s conversion to a belief in our sincerity.
On the other hand it contains no one capable of dealing with the existing
internal difficulties and will have to be strengthened. Our support is given
in the form of the assurances abovementioned and of advances or subsidies
possibly aggregating 200,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. a month. In return the Persian Govern
ment must recognise the South Persia Rifles in its present form till the end
of war and pursue a friendly policy.
3. Foregoing should supply material for conversations with Mujfahids, etc.
My suggestion is that in such conversations stress should be laid on the fact
that since the beginning of war our actions in Persia which have been represent
ed as indicating designs against (Persia ?) have been taken in self-defence
against enemy efforts.
Ho Cabinet will go far in the direction of active friendliness or hostility
unless the pro-German extremists succeed in getting into office. The Persians
though always ready to go with the side which shows strength are too timid to
commit themselves deeply.
It is unlikely that a dangerous situation will arise before the arrival of the
enemy missions unless some move of enemy troops in this direction takes place.
This is with reference to . your telegram of the 14th instant, 398.
ary
96
Telegram P., No. 622, dated the 20th (received 21st) January 1918.
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. , Baghdad,
To —The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi.
(Repeated to the Secretary of State for India, London.)
Kennion sends following telegrams :— Begins. No .-9 , dated 19th Janu-
Kasr-i-Shirin.
I met Suliman Mirza and Sinjabi Chiefs to-day.
Speaking for democrat party Suliman Mirza said lie was ready to work
with us provided we recognized Persia’s independence. He stipulated^ for
freedom from foreign control and made special mention of South Persia Rifles,
customs tariff and selection of Governors. I told him that I v as not
competent to discuss such questions but suggested that he should accept my
assurance of our desire to preserve Persia’s independence and leave frontier
where his presence subjected him to suspicion and go to Tehran where he could
work to secure better understanding with us on these controversial subjects.
He replied that it would compromise his position with democrat party if he
left without some assurances that British Legation would be open to discussion
of such questions and he asked me to telegraph to Legation on jhe subject.
If the Legation would then send for him through Minister of Interior, he would
leave at once. This is how matter now stands. My conclusion is that
Suliman Mirza has little hope from German connection and would drop it if
we were prepared to meet democrats’^ wishes. Further steps would apparently
depend on our general policy in Persia.
Siniabi Chie r s declared that they had no connection with Germans and
gave solemn assurances that they would protect road in future and allow no
German or Turk to pass through their country and would give the enemy no
cJL^£L*Jhj