File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎209v] (423/804)

£C Qawam-ul-Mulk is not satisfied with this hut demands an indemnity
for the insult. It appears that they are trying to obtain his satisfaction,
and have already taken him with them on a shooting expedition and paid
him some money. Shariq-us-Sultan and Seyed Abu Thalib Khan, who had
refused to leave, have been imprisoned. Eath-ul-Mulk feigns sickness. There
is extraordinary excitement in the town, and there is a run on the Bank. The
British feel very uneasy. The local gendarmes are all anti-British. Yesterday
about 200 of the Barman Barma’s gendarmes went in the direction of Dasht-
Arjan. Soulet-ud-Douleh’s policy is hostile to them. Qawam’s attitude,
although he received money from them two days ago, is also very hostile.
Some wounded arrived to-day from Khaneh-Zenian, Some women are
shouting out in the streets and bazaars that the English Bank has
become bankrupt, and that the people should secure coin in exchange for
their notes. There is great excitement. The Bank has paid so far, but has
sent 50,000 ( tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ?) to Yezd and Kerman. Zia-ul-Waizin and Zia-ul-Udeba
have been released from imprisonment. It is reported that about 100 loads of
ammunition en route from Bunder Abbas to Shiraz have been robbed on the
road by the Sar-i-Kuhi tribesmen.”
Kazerun.
Important documents have been intercepted at Kazerun including one
from the Darya Begi and Ali Akbar Khan which will shortly be published
for the information of the people. Measures have been taken to intercept the
enemy’s special messengers.
Muhammad Ali Khan Kashkuli, who until yesterday professed to be a
Nationalist, appears now to have made submission to the Governor-General
owing to his straitened circumstances and in order to regain his original
position : and has an earnest desire to retake Kazerun and take measures
against the Nationalists.
According to news received from Kazerun, two letters from him to the
Governor-General and Sykes have been intercepted at Nedun whence they
were sent to Kazerun. In those letters Muhammad Ali Khan has advised them
as to the way they should proceed to Nedun and then march Against Kazerun.
He also expresses his readiness to accomplish the service if he is provided with
ammunition. He is not satisfied with this, and with a view to engaging the
Mujahidin, he has set up his men to attack the Kazerun caravans and to
occupy some of the positions in the neighbourhood of Kazerun.
As God is with the Mujahidin, as soon as Nasr-i-Diwan heard this he sent
his men to pursue the robbers and restored all the caravans and by brave
assault recovered the positions and the tower from the rebel Turks, killed
about 27 men of them, and made the rest prisoners. Two of the Mujahidin
were killed, one* of them being the brother of Agha Mashedi Muhammad
Ibrahim, the Nationalist Mujahid, whose loss is sincerely deplored by all
patriots.
"Recent news states that Muhammad Ali Khan regrets this evil action and
has sent Haidar Ali Khan to Kazerun to make reparation for his action and
form an alliance.
We highly regret that Muhammad Ali Khan, who always made protesta
tions of patriotism and professed a desire to guard Islam, should show hostility
instead of helping at this moment when we are waging a holy war against our
foreign enemy.
We expected this man to lead the Nationalist force and retake Shiraz and.
crush the British, not that we (he?) should become a tool in the hands of the
enemies and attack us. Let us hope that he will rehabilitate himself by ren
dering good services to the Nationalist cause and recover his good name.
(Signed) ISLAH.
(Muhammad Reza Dirisi.)