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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎119r] (242/804)

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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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will remain for local garrison and convoy relief duty.
133
Telegram P., No. 164-F., dated (and received) the 8th May 1917,
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla. r
My telegram No. 160.
Establishment of a Republic in Persia is being talked about a good deal.
The Shah is genuinely impressed with it and hopes to find salvation in giving
way to every demand made by so-called democrats. At their instigation he has
now informed Prime Minister that his Cabinet must either be reconstructed by
the inclusion of Motesham-es-Sultaneh, Musteshar-ed-Dowleh and another pro-
German in place of Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Mansur, Eiruz Mirza and Kawam-ed-Dowleh or
that he must resign.
The reply of the Prime Minister was that he could not agree to such a
change which would be strongly resented by two Legations, and that he declined
to tender his resignation.
I told him 1 quite agreed with his reply. It would be impossible for
him to carry on his former policy with these new colleagues : with the
Shah ? s support they would force him to make objectionable demands on us;
if we refused them point blank, he would be accused of insincerity in
presenting them, and we should be forced in to making concessions in order
to keep him in office. His position would be in any case most humiliating.
I was convinced however that the Shah attached some importance to His
Highness’ retention and that it was foreign to His Majesty’s character to take
ascertained that I could only regard such a change as indicating a departure
from Persia’s declared policy of benevolent neutrality and as calculated to
produce worst impression on His Majesty’s Government who might have to
reconsider their attitude towards this country.
Though the Prime Minister agreed, he is evidently convinced that hostile
influences surrounding Shah will shortly bring about fail of Cabinet.
Eussian Charge d’Affaires entirely concurs in proposed course and used
somewhat similar arguments in discussing situation with Prime Minister.
Addressed London Eoreign Office; repeated Petrograd.
^Received with Army Department memorandum No. 6637, dated the 7th May 1917.)
Telegram P., No. M. D.-17, dated the 2nd (received 3rd) May 1917.
From— Colonel Redl, Meshed,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
an)
so decisive a step as to dismiss a Cabinet. So I thought best think for him
to do was to refuse to carry out Shah’s wishes on the ground that he had
134
of the presence in these regions
with a paper bearing Neidermayer i
by us and further information may

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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

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English in Latin script
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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎119r] (242/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323282.0x00002b> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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