File 3516/1914 Pt 14 'German War: Persia; general situation' [‎89r] (182/532)

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Telegram P., No. 393 P., dated the 15th (received 16th) October 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty’ Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla.
Please refer to your telegram No. 373. Germans have been showing great
activity for last few days. Large quantities of ammunition and arms and, it is
said, bombs are being imported and German agents have increased considerably
in number. Of course exact figures are not obtainable, but from reports
received by me it is evident that Germans are constantly arriving in compara
tively large numbers and in all Persia there cannot, I think, be less than two
hundred and fifty Austrians, sixty Germans, most of whom are escaped prisoners
of war from Trans-Caspia, and perhaps fifty Turks, renegade Indians, &c., with
eight thousand rifles, seven or eight machine guns, bombs, &c. Insignificant
as this force would be elsewhere, in Persia it is formidable with gendarmerie is
entirely, and police probably disaffected, and with rigorous pressure and the
worst elements in the country in the enemy’s pay. In addition to above,
funds are being more lavishly spent than ever.
Probably this spurt is due to their fear of the imminent fall of Baghdad
which event would (include ?) present release eastward of line of communica
tion with Constantinople and also to probable arrival of Grand Duke in
Caucasus-which may imply military measures of a more rigorous nature in
Persia. If I am correct in this surmise, Germans’ supreme efiort would appear
to be imminent. I have not enough material to foretell wdth certainty the
direction it will take, but for the present Hamadan appears to be present focus
of attack. British Consul there is being openly threatened by German Consul
w T ho gives out he is going to avenge arrest of Turkish Consul at Besht. The
latter is said to have three hundred tribesmen who are led by a German
in his pay and against these the Governor, who is timid though well disposed,
has pohsidly extremely ill led men while police and gendarmerie forces are
untrustworthy. Though Persian Government have sent a hundred Persian
Cossacks from Tehran they admit the gravity of the situation and that the
Consuls are in great danger. Bussian Minister is requesting permission from
his Government to despatch a regiment of Cossacks from Lasvin. Provided
they are not detained for an indefinite period there, I think, that would
he good (move?); but we must not be led into undue weakening of our only
force which is within striking distance of Tehran. Wassmuss is making great
efforts in Ears to prevent new Governor of Bushire from going to take up his
post. Sultanabad is threatened.
It seems evident that Germans intend to make a move of some kind in
Tehran, from fact that Swedish commandant of gendarmerie has been making
enquiries of Armenians as to what attitude they would adopt if Persian
Government should declare themselves on side of either of belligerents or if
an attack were to be made on Christians. In month of Mouarram which
begins now attempt would be certainly made as this is the time religions
fanaticism easily roused.
Is there any prospect of any more troops being sent to Kasvin by Russian
Government ?
Addressed to Eoreign Office, London; sent to Petrograd and to Simla.
68
Telegram P., No. 198, dated (and received) the 16th October 1315.
From—His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Kerman, Kerman,
qV—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
There is nothing to report.