File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎48r] (100/804)

to my ray f^onWoly 15th, 1915. I be- that information to this effect will be
iw!nn °» G -? a M General Staff ' BerIin > and to the Wireless Company
rayton, and a suitable extract to my father H. Ad. Sohroeder, Teuttberg '
TV ith the greatest respect,
• Professor Schroeder.
To
The Poreign Office,
Berlin.
The letter
immediately:—
should be opened, read and the following should"be informed
Ambassador to Persia.
General Staff for Persia.
Imperial German Mission in Constantinople.
37
Telegram P., No. 202-F., dated the 13th (received 14th) June 1917.
From—His Britannic Majestps Minister, Tehran,
T°—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla. 1
I have discussed Soutli Persia Bides with Sykes and Colonel Hunter his
late Chief of Staff and come to conclusion that it is impossible under existing
system of control both on technical and financial matters to expect good
progress with organisation and that it is essential that Inspector-General should
be given much greater latitude. At present Government of India apparentiv
intend that force should be organised on model of Imperial Army. If South
Persia Rifles formed part of latter rigid adherence to it would be justified and
necessary. As the South Persia Rifles, however, is a Persian force It is neces
sary to introduce such modifications as experience shows to be required by local
conditions. Revision is also necessary in the conditions of service and appoint
ment of officers. There seems to be no adequate reason why appointments in a
Persian force, permanent in the case of Persian officers and temporary in the
case of British, should not be made on authority of Inspector, subject to
approval perhaps of Persian Government but without reference to Home;
while as regards conditions of service it is obvious that if good results are to be
obtained something must be done to render them attractive. There is so much
uncertainty at present that even Chief of Staff does not know what pay he is
entitled to. I suggest that British officers shduld be seconded say for five years,
with guarantees for their professional prospects and that local or acting rank
granted to British personnel by Inspector-General should carry pay, permanent
promotion of non-commissioned officers being made in consultation with their
British regimental authorities and that officers holding temporary British com
missions be provided if they desire it with permanent commissions in South
Persia Rifles.
Greater freedom is still more indispensible in financial matters. At
present observance of the eomplecated minutiae of Indian regulations is
exacted and in the absence of a cheap clerical staff British officers have in
consequence to neglect training of men for office work. It seems moreover
unreasonable to attempt to apply Indian regulations to the very dissimilar
conditions in Persia. However, suitable regulations may be for an already
organised force, they must be applied with gieat elasticity in the case of one
in the process of formation. (Further, it seems useless to inaugurate a system
of control which will infallibly be dropped when cost of South Persia Rifles
is borne by Persia. In my opinion the only practical course is for the
Inspector-General to be authorised to spend up to the limit of his approved
budget of three million tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. with power to make transfers as experience
and expediency may dictate, with an independent auditor at his headquarters.
Great distances and inadequate and at present insecure postal communications