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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎17r] (38/804)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (398 folios). It was created in 1916-1917. 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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80
Telegram P., No. 329-P., dated the 4th (received
L
5th) October 1917..
fcrom—His Rritannic Majesty^s Minister, Tehran,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
ment, Simla.
Depart-
Please refer to your telegram No. 262.
Military considerations of which I am totally ignorant appear to me to
sgovern situation almost exclusively, but I would recommend that we should
work on lines sketched by India assuming from general tenour of Government
-of India’s telegram and from Tiflis telegrams Nos. 364 and 408 just received
that probability that enemy penetration into Persia and buffer State Afghan-
Istan, as its objective is serious and imminent and that any support whether
military or political that Russia could give is negligible.
It would be preferable to effect our change of attitude with stronger
and more friendly Cabinet than the present one which is already tottering.
I am of opinion that, if I could give Yossuk-ed-Dowleh a personal undertaking
that we would come to a satisfactory arrangement at end of war as to South
Persia Rifles, he would be able to get together a Cabinet of which he would
he guiding spirit if not nominal head. I would promise to give him a
considerable sum in cash down, Le., part or all of last 5 months’ instalments
under Moratorium Agreement which would enable him to deal with bread
question.
I think Vossuk-ed-Dowleh would succeed with these cards in his hands
and with such other help as I can indirectly give from Secret Service funds.
He is supported by Sipak Salar and has considerable body of public opinion in
his favour. Both have courage and would deal firmly with agitators, who,
with blind disregard for every thing but their personal and party interests, are
at present running things in Capital.
In order to ensure his position we should also be prepared to agree to re
vision of August Agreement as regards financial control ana further to guarantee
from monthly instalments of Moratorium a minimum interest in krans.
We might in the course of discussion on these matters endeavour without
making it a sine qua non to obtain assurances on questions under (<?) of my
telegram No. 236.
As Persia will always prefer to remain neutral, I must warn His Majesty’s
Government that we can expect very little if any active assistance from any
Cabinet. But from a friendly Cabinet such as one guided by Yossuk-ed-
Howleh we shall often get unofficial assistance and countenance and will
therefore not be hampered in any steps we may find it necessary to take
whereas with a weaker or not friendly combination we should meet with
constant obstruction and even covert opposition. Shah is a difficulty :
though he is very alarmed at state to woicli this Cabinet has brought
country yet with his constitutional timidity he cannot yet bring himself to
adopt energetic policy Yossuk-ed-Dowleh has laid before him. When matters
get a (little r) worse an appeal to his cupidity would probably bring him
over.
Though Persian Government might connive at it, it is very improbable I
think in any circumstances that they would agree to South Persia Rifles
being used as an auxiliary to Imperial forces.
If by means of small groups penetration is attempted a small number of
British officers might usefully be employed to form bands to catch enemy
agents while cordon along Eastern frontier should be strengthened.
As considerable expenditure will he involved and with calls of Russian
troops on its resources Imperial Bank of Persia should by importation of
iHver at once strengthen its position and I would also recommend that
preparations be made to mint krans in Bombay in order that in the event of
military situation in direction of Tehran developing unfavourably which would
SLost certainly tend to a run of the Bank elsewhere, we may not find
ourselves crippled for want on money.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, and memoranda, comprising miscellaneous correspondence on British involvement in Persia in the period 1916-17.

Topics discussed include:

  • the activities of the German Vice-Consul, Bushire, Wilhelm Wassmuss, including reports of an attack on him (folio 312)
  • an account of the escape of German and Austrian prisoners (folio 281)
  • translations of letters from German prisoners transferred from Shiraz to Russia (ff 43-48) including a translation of Dr Zugmeyer's diary
  • discussion of German and Russian activities in Persia
  • tables, statistics and reports on troop numbers and weaponry, deployments, military engagements and casualties
  • British relations with local chiefs and their dealings with the Germans and Russians
  • transcripts of local newspaper articles on various topics including the Russian Revolution (folio 136v)
  • discussion of money required to pay to tribes
  • miscellaneous Army Department memoranda
  • general reports on the political and military situation in Persia including the 'Bakhtiari country' (ff 320-321)

The file is mainly divided into sections on events by weekly date period. Correspondents include: the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department; HBM Minister, Tehran (Sir Charles Marling); HBM Consul, Bundar Abbas [Bandar Abbas]; HBM Consul, Shiraz; HM Consul-General, Meshed; HM Consul for Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, (David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer); HBM Vice-Consul, Ahwaz (Captain Edward Noel); HM Consul-General, Isfahan; General Officer Commanding, Sistan Field Force; The General Staff, South Persia Rifles, Shiraz; the Inspector-General, South Persia Rifles (Brigadier-General Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes); Chief of the General Staff, Simla; Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London; 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. , Bushire; and the 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. , Bushire.

Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (398 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file. The subject 3360 (Persian Correspondence) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/612-614. The volumes are divided into three parts, with each part comprising 1 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 400; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎17r] (38/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323281.0x000027> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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