File 3516/1914 Pt 11 'Persia: protection of Anglo-Persian Oil Co's fields etc' [‎255r] (514/550)

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before the Chaab have returned to the fold or if Persia succeeds in raising fresh
trouble in Arabistan.
I attach a copy of an undertaking which I have taken from the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran.
and Ubegi of the Bakhtiaris which is all right so far as it goes. In the event
of the warning of danger being given we should have the choice of withdrawing
the community and leaving a large and valuable settlement representing some
millions of money to be wrecked, or of sending troops to protect it.
Supposing that we had river-boats available troops could be quickly pushed
up to Derra Khazineh and landed there. But the road from there to the fields
passes through most difficult country, and at present the water-supply question
at the fields settlement itself seems to me to represent a great difficulty.
At all events it needs specific examination if there is any possible chance of troops
having to be sent there.
At present the population at the fields is about i,ooo including 40 Europeans.
They derive their water-supply from a number of wells in a neighbouring
valley between 4 and 5 miles away, from which it is pumped up by a number of
steam pumps worked by one engine and passed through pipes to the fields.
There is at present no condenser but they have one at Tembi pumping station 3
miles away on the other side. The Manager thinks it would be a simple
thing to rig up a condenser at the fields in case of emergency ; that
might be all right for the present community but if troops were to go
there we should want to have a cut and dried plan either for holding the present
water supply or for devising an emergency one.
Then there is the question of the wireless station the establishment of
which at the fields is already sanctioned and which only awaits the provision of
river transport to enable the plant to be taken up. The sooner this can be pro
vided the better, if there is still any likelihood of Persia coming into the war.
The question of guarding the pipe line is a more simple matter, but either in
the case of the fields or the pipe line I find it difficult to make any suggestions
as to the precise strength of the force which would be necessary for their pro
tection. But I think that in case of war being declared by Persia the first thing
to do would be to send a regiment, cavalry if possible, ^ at once to Barra
Khazineh. It is situated in a piece of no-man’s land belonging neither to the
Bakhtiaris nor to the Sheikh of Muhammareh.
Neither would have any right to object; there is plenty of good water an
ipen space and the presence of a regiment there would both give confidence
o the community at the fields and steady the tribesmen of the surrounding
country.
I strongly recommend, however, that one or two military staff officers, clad
n mufti if possible, so as not to excite comment or create unnecessary appre-
icnsion, be sent up to the fields via Darra Khazineh to stu y e ne
situation on the spot.
S1378GSB
(Sd.) P. Z. COX,—27-5-15.