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File 3516/1914 Pt 14 'German War: Persia; general situation' [‎179r] (362/532)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (261 folios). It was created in 8 Aug 1915-30 Nov 1915. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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11
Telegram V., No. 240 C., dated (and received) the 2nd October 1915.
From —His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and Kain,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
On September 23rd the Officer Commanding, Sistan column, was ordered
not to interfere with Persians unless they are escorting Germans. I submit
that this order should be modified as he is now precluded from stopping Persian
carriers of despatches.
«
Mr. New has interviewed Ali Akbar Tehvildar in his village (see my tele
gram No. 24 F.).
Latter stated that Paschen in disguise of a shepherd or camelman begged
assistance to pass through our cordon as he had most important telegrams and
despatches to send which on no account must fall into the enemies’ hands. He
was advised to abandon the attempt. He then made his way back to
Afghanistan. Another attempt has no doubt been made to get these
despatches through, probably with an Afghan or Persian courier.
I am persuaded that embargo still exists on export of wheat. We still
require to send supplies to garrison at Kacha Koh. Some time ago I told
Revenue Director that though we would give him a statement of wheat
exported, we would oppose (with ? ) force any attempt to prevent export at
Koh-i-Malik Siah. The Officer Commanding now states that he will not resist
injunctions of Mirza.
Consequently we shall have to ask Quetta to send supplies (?) at much
heavier cost to Kacha Koh. As they also know that embargo is unreasonable,
local Persian officials will entirely fail to understand this change of policy.
In reply to my telegram of 27th September, No. 99. His Majesty’s Minister has
telegraphed (No. 73, dated September 28th) '.—Begins. With the Persian
Government I can do nothing. Ends. Before I sent my telegram 99, Shaukat
told me that without permission of Persian Government he could not sanction
building on Persian lands. The position now is that our troops will not be
able to remain encamped on Consulate football ground, as this site becomes a
lake in winter, and that no Persian subjects will dare to rent land to us unless
we inform Persian authorities that we insist on taking it.
The policy of Russians is in my humble opinion much better suited to
the local circumstances though doubtless sometimes individual officers carry it
to abuse and excess. In Gunabad Russians deported to Meshed an obstructive
Mulla. In Kain they flogged Syads who refused to give them transport;
everywhere they take a strong line which seems to be effective.
A Customs Mirza assaulted and dragged from his house a levy in the
service of Sistan column on August 30th. Revenue Director proposed that
Mirza should be fined the sum of one toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . Pending a reference to Tehran
I pressed Karguzar to keep Mirza under arrest. In spite of my reminders 26
days passed and no orders for his punishment arrived. I then permitted release
of Mirza. Local authorities may be less amenable next time and I think we
would have to take the law into our own hands, but this of course cannot^ be
done without modification of existing orders. It seems to me that Persians
cannot fail to notice present difference of policies of two powers. It signifies
to them that in spite of all assertions to the contrary we still are not in
(agreement ?) in some respects.
18
Telegram P., No. SO F„ dated the 2nd (received 3rd) October 1915.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and Kain,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please refer to Minister’s telegram No. 135 F. of 30th ultimo.

About this item

Content

The volume concerns the situation in south-western Persia during the First World War. The main focus is the British occupation of Bushire.

The volume covers:

  • Attack on British Consulate at Ispahan, which resulted in the wounding of the Consul and the death of one of the Sowars employed as escorts at the Consulate.
  • German activity in Persia; movements of German agents.
  • Turkish officers in Persia.
  • Possible Russian occupation of north-western Persia.
  • Attitude of Persian Government and situation at Tehran and in the rest of Persia.
  • Information suggesting that maps of Persia, Afghanistan and Mesopotamia were made available by the Germans to the Turks.
  • Rumoured arrest of British Consul at Shiraz.
  • Appointment of Darya Begi as Governor of Gulf Ports.
  • Alarm caused by advance of Russian troops.
  • Evacuation of British Consul from Kermanshah.
  • Arrest of British subjects from Shiraz.
  • Demands of Khans in return for the release of Shiraz prisoners.

The volume’s principal correspondents are: Charles Marling, British Minister at Tehran; British Consuls at Kerman (C T Ducat), Sistan and Kain (Francis Beville Pridaux), Isfahan (G Grahame), Khorasan, Yazd, Lingeh [Bandar Lengeh] (W R Howson); Percy Cox, 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Arthur Prescott Trevor, Deputy 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; Thomas William Holderness and Arthur Hirtzel, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; War Office; Charles Hardinge, Viceroy of India; Walter Langley and Maurice de Bunsen, Foreign Office; War Office; George Buchanan, British Ambassador in Russia; Darya Begi; the American Embassy in London; the Adjutant General in India.

There is a letter in French, from the French Embassy in London; there is a translation of a newspaper article, from Jam-i-Jam.

Extent and format
1 volume (261 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 263; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 3516/1914 Pt 14 'German War: Persia; general situation' [‎179r] (362/532), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/490, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044312164.0x0000a3> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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