File 3516/1914 Pt 11 'Persia: protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Co's fields etc' [‎254v] (513/550)

Meirorandum by Sir P. Cox.
The protection of the Pipe Line and Fields Settlement aj the A. P. 0. C.
Previous to the recent outbreak in Arabistan the pipe line had never been
interfered with. The damage done in January and February last all occurred
between the Bakhtiari border and Ahwaz. No damage was done within
Bakhtiari limits nor south of Ahwaz.
This new departure on the part of the tribesmen of Arabistan was very
probably instigated by Turkish or German agents, but having once been tried
with success may again be resorted to when occasion is considered to demand
it. For the present however local conditions have apparently returned to normal.
The Bawi have submitted to the Shaikh of Muhammareh and have executed a
written undertaking to keep the road open through their limits and accepting
responsibility for the security of the pipe line, telephone line and the Com
pany’s employes. (Copy attached.)
The breaks in the line have so far been repaired as to enable the oil to pass
through to Abadan, but there are still some leaks remaining, due probably to
corrosion.
I travelled down the line from the fields to Naseri and saw the working
parties now out. The new arrangements for patrolling the line and guarding the
camps have not yet had time to get into working order and there have been
one or two thefts since the working parties went out, but no arrangement which
depends on the vigilance of local Persian guards will be proof against occa
sional instances of robbery. These however do not ordinarily amount to much
and I think it is better to give the present arrangement some weeks trial before
seriously contemplating the alternative of placing military guards along the line.
The Company’s representatives are of the same opinion, I propose to send Cap
tain Noel up now to take over the Consular post at Ahwaz, with special instruc
tions to keep a close watch on the progress of affairs on the pipe line and keep
the Shaikhs concerned up to their obligations.
I saw General Gorringe at lllah and he consulted me as to the advisability
of sending for the Bawi Shaikhs and giving them a friendly warning, to the
effect that while he had been glad to hear of their undertaking to the Shaikh he
thought it advisable to caution them that if they did not act strictly up to it and
if there should be any further trouble on the pipe line he would have to concern
himself with them, and they had better take warning by the Beni Turuf. I told
him I thought it would be best to let well alone for the present as the Bawi
Shaikhs were still nervous and suspicious and afraid to come in personally to
Naseri and that any message calling them in to see the General Officer Com
manding might merely result in their clearing off. I recommended General
Gorringe to wait until he came in to Naseri himself and then, after discussing the
question with Shaikh Hanzal, to write a letter to them in the sense above
indicated.
1 should mention that the Shaikh of Muhammareh and some others whose
opinion is entitled to weight express the view that with reference to their
attitude to the Shaikh of Muhammareh little confidence can be placed in the
submission of the Bawi and they may give him trouble again when they have
gathered their harvest and got rid of their spare grain. It does not follow
however that they will give trouble to the Oil Company. Moreover, when things
have gone on satisfactorily for a short time on the pipe line and the laying of
the second pipe has fairly started, the Company can take up the matter of the
subsidy, with a view to securing their good will. It would be better however
that the Chaab should have been brought back to the fold before that is done.
The foregoing observations assume that Persia will not join in the war on
the side of our enemies.
Should she do so the protection of the Oil Fields Settlement and the pipe
line will become a more difficult problem, especially if the phenomenon occurs