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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎326v] (657/804)

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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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'1
4
If arrival of the latter means large rise in prices, some indignation may
justly be expected. Earman Earma wishes us to arrange with Bakhtiaris to
bring cleaned wheat and barley to Kumisha, whence he will transport it to-
Shiraz.
Could not arrangements also be made to bring wheat from Karachi vie*
Bushire ? I consider matter urgent. Arrangements might be made through
Noel to purchase 2,000 kharwas wheat and 500 kharwas barley from Chahar
Mahal and have it cleaned and landed at best price possible at Kumisha. I
foresee much trouble unless we do something soon.
45
Telegram P., dated the 4th (received 9th) October 1916.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Kerman,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated Cox, Tehran and Sykes).
My telegram No. 152 and your telegram 721-8.^ Commandant, Kerman,
concurs with me that South Persian Bifles are not serviceable or trained force
and are unlikely to be so for a couple of years. Suitable recruits are difficult to
obtain; we have at present 500, but only 30 horses and no saddlery. There
are only 50 old gendarmes and 30 tribesmen, i.e. 9 men accustomed to arms
and as such immediately available for rough and ready service. As I expected,
Sirjan levies have, except as a political measure, proved a failure. Local
tribesmen are at present quite unreliable being constitutionally opposed to all
discipline and their chiefs will not part with control over them.
We must not regard Sirjan as a watertight compartment. Situation in
Kerman town and province will be vitally affected if it passes from our
control.
In Kerman town there is a democratic element which has been active for
some time and which we have been trying to identify and suppress.
Sympathies of tribes are not with us and 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. Nusrat and other doubt
fully stout-hearted friends have no influence over them.
f ; M
48
Telegram R., No. 741-C., dated the 7th (received 9th) October 1916.
From— Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G.,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
My telegram 733-C., October 5th. Beaching Ispahan, October 7th,
having escorted in about 4,000 mule loads British goods. Enemy casualties
impossible to state, but probably about a dozen. There is reason to believe
that Amir Mujahid and other Bakhtiaris were behind Jafar and Kuli, whose
forpe included many Bakhtiaris.
Column will start for Shiraz, October 12th.
Addressed Tehran j repeated Chief of the General Staff, Basrah and
Gough.
47
No. 373-C., dated Bushire, the 25th September (received 3rd October) 1916.
Endorsed by Second Assistant to 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. .
Eorwarded to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, for information, with reference to this office telegram, No. 1823, dated
the 17th September 1916—
1. Translation of a letter from the Kawam-ul-Mulk, Shiraz, to the Governor of the
Gulf Ports, dated 8th Zi-Q,aadeh 1334 ( = 9th September 1916), with enclosure.
2. Translation of a letter from Ghazanfar-us-Sultaneh, Khan of Borasjun, to Hassatt
Khan, Tangistani, dated 17th Zi-Qaadek 1331 (=16th September 1916).

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)' [‎326v] (657/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323284.0x00003a> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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