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File 3516/1914 Pt 6 'German War: Persia; general situation May-July 1915' [‎181r] (368/484)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (237 folios). It was created in 1 Apr 1915-16 Jul 1915. 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. .

Transcription

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4
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' tyyi'U. -$-■ '■ ' ,: 'f''’ $L\y\- f ^ '-.J-^}
The Secretary of State for India communicates the following :—
Documentary evidence has reached His Majesty’s Government provin
conclusively that German consular officers in Persia and the agents of the
German firm of Wonckhaus have been engaged in intrigues with the object
of facilitating the Turkish invasion of Persia and of raising the tribes against
Great Britain, thus flagrantly violating Persian neutrality. For example,
not only were the agents of Messrs, Wonckhaus at Ahwaz and Mohammerah
found to be in direct communication with the Turkish troops, but an
elaborate plot has been discovered of which Afghanistan, the frontier, and
the Indian Army are the objective. Herr Wassmuss , who was formerly
German Consul at Bushire, and has recently been appointed German
Consul at Shiraz (where Germany lias no commercial interests and has not
hitherto had a consul), was the prime mover in this. It is now known that
he was at Cairo shortly before the war, and in Constantinople when war
broke out. Accompanied by four other Germans and four Indians who
were sent from Berlin to join him at Constantinople, he made his way to
the Persian frontier, and thence to Shiraz. Among his effects was a box
containing several thousand violently inflammatory pamphlets in the English,
Urdu, Hindu, Punjabi, and Sikh languages, addressed to the Indian Army,
calling on them to take the opportunity to throw off the hated yoke and rise
and kill their officers. A long appeal to Mussulman soldiers in India was
also found, urging them to join in jehad. This person is now at Shiraz
awaiting instructions frpm the German Legation at Tehran.
Not less discreditable is a correspondence which has come into our
possession between the German Legation and the Consul at Bushire?
Some time ago a large consignment of arms and ammunition arrived at that
port, and was hurriedly and secretly conveyed up-country by the Swedish
officers of gendarmerie. The following telegrams were exchanged
From German Legation to German Consul, Bushire.
“ Thanks, for news regarding arms. Please henceforth do not manifest
any further interest. \\ eapons will be fetched away for our secret object.
From German Consul to German Legation.
“ Weapons were fetched away some days ago by Swedish officer. My
promotion of this affair has remained inconspicuous throughout.
Light is thrown upon the “secret object by the following facts. Ihe
German Consul had been in communication with the Persian bheikh Rais
Ali of Dilwar, a coast town some miles to the south of Bushire, regarding
a proposed attack on the latter place which Rais Ali w^as apparently anxious
to begin at once. The German Legation telegraphed as follows on the
19th February :—
“Reference telegram No. 25, dated lehran, 1st instant, regarding
undesirability of immediate action by Rais Ali, and the absolute futility
of independent action. Please hold him well in hand and assure im
confidently of a movement in the spring. If you really think him ic lab e
and consider that circumstances are ripe for action there, wouic R e a
good thing to make out a plan secretly with him which would be combined
with an already arranged secret action led from here and would at the
same time win over all Persia ? As soon as possible wil et you mow
secretly further on this matter.’

About this item

Content

The volume concerns events that happened in Persia and Balochistan, during the First World War. The main focus is measures to be taken in the event of Persia entering the War against Great Britain.

The volume covers:

The volume’s principal correspondents are: Charles Hardinge, Viceroy of India; Thomas William Holderness and Arthur Hirtzel, 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. ; Percy Cox, 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Walter Gordon Neale, Assistant Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Walter Beaupre Townley and Charles Marling, British Ministers at Tehran; W MacDouall, British Consul for Kermanshah; G Grahame, British Consul-General at Isfahan, Eyre Alexander Barby Wichart Crowe, Foreign Office; Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; John Nixon, General Officer Commanding, Force 'D', Basrah; the Admiralty; Imperial Bank of Persia; Anglo-Persian Oil Company; Strick, Scott and Co.

There is a newspaper cutting, from The Times .

Extent and format
1 volume (237 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 239; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-237; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 3516/1914 Pt 6 'German War: Persia; general situation May-July 1915' [‎181r] (368/484), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/483, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044353272.0x0000a9> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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