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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎347v] (699/804)

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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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19th Punjabis, less 1 double company.
Machine gun section, 12th Pioneers.
Pack Wireless section 3 stations.
(Temporary) 2 companies, 106th Pioneers.
Their distribution as known here is shewn on the attached map, and is
detailed in Dy. No. 76704, of which a copy is included in the papers men
tioned in paragraph 5 of these orders.
Major Keyes, Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Mekran, with the Mekran Mission
(regular escort of 2 companies, 127th Baluchistan Infantry, and 50 rifles, l-7th
Gurkhas, under command of Captain Harvey Kelly, 127th Baluchis) is at
present at Sib.
The future action of this Mission is at present under consideration of the
Poreign and Political Department.
Should your operations require the co-operation of this force, you will
inform me for consideration as to placing it under your control for operations.
Meanwhile you should seek Major Kej es* opinion and advice in political
matters relating to Bampur and Mekran.
The line of communications of your force from Nushki to Bobat is under
the orders of General Officer Commanding, Quetta Division, and is adminis
tered by a Boad Commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. James, 126th Balu
chistan Infantry.
The orders issued to your predecessor and which still hold good are to
rid* Mter No. 12096 - 1 , dated 6th October 1916 , intercept, capture or destroy any German
from c. g. s. to o. c., Nasratabad. parties attempting to enter Afghanistan
or Sistan.
Instructions dealing with these orders were to the following effect
Although you should keep in the closest touch with the Consul, Sistan,
and consult him regarding the situation and the measures necessary to effect
the object in view, you alone are responsible for deciding on military measures
to be taken.
You should co-operate with the Russians and act as you consider necessary
to close the roads which the hostile parties might use, keeping in mind,
however, the undesirability of having numerous small detachments. A good
system of intelligence, furnishing early intimation of any movements of hostile
parties and thereby enabling counter-measures being taken in good time from
a central point, should go a considerable way towards obviating the necessity
for detailing permanent detachment to watch various roads.
8«e also telegram from O, C., Nasratabad, to C. You Can Spend money freely for the
g. s.. No. 4 - 1 , dated 23 rd August iyi5. purpose of organising such an intelligence
system.
So long as Persia maintains her neutrality, every endeavour must be
made to act in a manner friendly to the Persians and in support of the
Persian authorities. Persian subjects should not be interfered with, unless
they are escorting hostile parties or unless there is reason to believe that they
are carrying despatches for the Germans. Any suspicious traveller should he
examined.
Throughout your operations it must be borne in mind that small detach
ments are specially liable to attack and that even a slight reverse would have
serious consequence as regards our prestige. Small detachments are, therefore,
to be avoided as much as possible.
Your predecessor was forced by hostility on the part of various Sarhaddi
tribes, and raids by them on his convoys to move southwards into their country
and take retaliatory action. The permanent occupation of any area beyond
our present border is not intended and all arrangements you make should,
therefore, be of an entirely temporary nature.
The presence of regular troops in Sarhad may be necessary for some time,
but the Government of India desire to withdraw the troops as soon as the
Germans have been dealt with and political arrangements made for the control
of the border.

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)' [‎347v] (699/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323284.0x000064> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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