File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎343r] (690/804)

300
Telegram B,., No. 624-C., dated the 13th (received 14th) September 1916.
From Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Ispahan,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
My immediately preceding telegram. I have discussed question of
prisoners with Russian Consul and Commandant. They consider that des
patch of weak force of 150 men to take over prisoners Abadeh is most
inadvisable.
They consider that column should remain Ispahan until Hamadan
situation definitively improves.
Addiessed Foreign, Chief of the General Staff, Tehran, Cox, Gough and
Kennion. °
301
Telegram P., No. 607-F,, dated the ]3th (received 14th) September 1916.
From—Hie Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
My telegram No. 604. According to telegram from Gough sent from
camp one stage from Abadeh, Soulet-ed-Dowleh now declines to send prisoners
except on Persian Government’s orders, and 45 of his gendarmerie escort have
deserted with three officers and are said to have joined Kashgai. As Gough has
always believed in loyalty of gendarmerie on road, this latter news is disquiet-
ing. Attitude of Governor of Abadeh is also dubious. In opinion of Consul-
General, Ispahan, road in the neighbourhood of Yezdikhast is so unsafe that
to ensure safety of prisoners an escort considerably greater than the 100 mea
Gough suggests would be requisite, and Sykes is not in a position to furnish
this. I think that in these circumstances plan of sending prisoners from Shiraz
must be abandoned especially as Persian Government is averse from it though
rather on the ground that embarrassment would be caused by their passage
throughTehran later.
Gough expects to reach Abadeh to-morrow.
Addressed London Foreign Office ; repeated Basrah.
302
Telegram P., No. 1812, dated the 13th (received 14th) September 1916.
From—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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Telegram 66, August 30th, from Kerman.
A letter, dated August 2nd, from Dr. Sutoras, Sirjan,to Seiler, Shiraz, was
intercepted on August 24th by Nejef Khan, Intelligence Agent at Shiraz,
brief notes from Seiler Obeydulla and Bruggmann were enclosed. Whether
Intelligence Agent reported this direct to Tehran or not I do not know. We
have now received translation of letters. Sutoras wrote that they were
prisoners and had arrived under Persian escort at Sirjan on July 29th. They
intended to spin out their stay as long as possible. He hoped for a rescue
from Shiraz which he thought was still under German regime. The party
may possibly try to make tbeir way there, all the prisoners, he says, want to
get there, except Obeydulla who wants to get back to Kerman. He writes
“ Prince Hussein, officer in charge of escort, will try to help us to escape so
that we may all be free again though penniless
Addressed Tehran £ repeated Basrah.
Beeeivsd on ‘V •?
a mi u , j, J s ^ With
INDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. No. 75 jg
Dated oo or-n inir*