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File 3516/1914 Pt 18 'German War: Persia; general situation - 1916' [‎57v] (123/368)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (175 folios). It was created in 17 Nov 1915-18 Feb 1916. It was written in English and French. 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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For instance the “ Persian women and children ” to whom Herr Wassmusg
alludes in second paragraph of his letter consisted of one family only, which had
to be expelled from Bushire by the military authorities during the occupation
owing to one of the female members, who is a Tangistani, and in the habit of
going across there, being strongly suspected of giving information to the enemy.
This family was detained at Mohammerah with a subsistence allowance and
allowed to return to Bushire at the end of Oclober at the conclusion of the
military occupation, so there is not much ground for reasonable complaint in
this regard.
In the list of privileges which Herr AVassmuss states are enjoyed by the
male prisoneis, he mentions in clause (1) the Postal authorities as supervising
the prisoners’ letters This is not so. Letters are censored either by AY assmuss
himself or his minions, or by one of the Khans’ Munshis A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. , who knows English.
The postal authorities have nothing to do with the matter and have no post
office at Abram.
The other “privileges” also require some comment, so I will deal with ther
clauses seriatim.
(2) The English papers are seen by Herr Wassmuss first.
(3) Some of their servants have stayed and some have left.
(4) The rations provided are of course very inferior as the Tangistani
standard of living is not high ; we supplement this from Bushire
as far as we can * * * *
(5) AY r e have also sent some books belonging to Major O’Connor which
had arrived here and some tobacco, etc.
(6) Ordinarily they are confined to the courtyard in the local fort, but
they are allowed to go for walks The baths, I understand, are
taken in some hot springs near by which nature has fortunately
provided, otherwise baths would be few and far between I
imagine,
(7) The prisoners have all to live in one small room, there is also a
very small room which is used as a hospital for any one who is
sick. Herr AVassmuss in claiming free communication as a
privilege makes a virtue of necessity.
In enumerating the prisoners who, he says, <£ have been taken prisoners
by infraction of International Law and Persian sovereignty,” Herr A^assmuss
has omitted to mention that they were all infringing Persian neutrality and
carrying on hostilities against us.
Dr. Listemann himself was arranging with the Tangistani Chief, Bais
Ali (since killed while making a night raid on one of our outposts) to
make a night attack on the British here then quite defenceless and living
scattered about the Island. He was also waiting for a suitable opportunity
to cut our cable and damage our wireless installations, and further was
arranging the transmission of arms up country for seditious purposes. Kefer-
ring to Herr Wassmuss’ list we find that—
(1) Dr. Linders, as previously mentioned, was in AVassmuss’ own mission
for stirring up Persia, Afghanistan and India.
(2) Mr. Eisenhut was actively engaged as one of the firm of
R. Wonckhaus & Co. in supplying funds to German secret
agents to stir up trouble and otherwise working against us.
(3) and (4) were corresponding with the Turkish force and the German
officers and adventurers with it, which invaded Arabistan.
(5) was not arrested on Persian soil but * * *
(6) was mixed up in the intrigues to create a rising in Oman and an
attack by Tangistanis on Bahrain, besides being in active corre
spondence with the Turkish authorities at Basrah, supplying them
with very prompt and accurate news of our expeditionary
force.

About this item

Content

The volume concerns the situation in Persia during the First World War. The main focus is the Persian protests against violation of their country's neutrality, British and Russian responses to Persian nationalism, and their attempts to influence the Shah and the Majlis deputies during the events that happened in November 1915.

The volume covers:

  • Advance of Russian troops on Kashan and Tehran.
  • Situation at Kermanshah between August and November 1915.
  • Dismissal of Swedish Commandment of Gendarmerie.
  • Persian Gendarmerie.
  • Arrest of the British Consul at Shiraz by Le Comité National pour la protection de l'Indépendance Persane in November 1915.
  • German and Turkish interests.
  • United States Minister at Tehran's attitude.
  • 'Report on the seizure of the Shiraz Colony' (ff 130-132).
  • Terms proposed by Khans for release of British prisoners at Shiraz.
  • Situation in Bushire.
  • British Consulate at Bunder Abbas moved to Kerman.
  • Kerman branch of Imperial Bank of Persia reported to have been looted.
  • Russian operations on the Caucasian and Persian fronts.
  • Report of Vice Consul on the evacuation of Hamadan.
  • Prisoners at Bushire and Shiraz.
  • Intercepted letter from Wilhelm Wassmuss to Helmuth Listemann, regarding British prisoners at Bushire.
  • Events in the provinces.
  • Capture of Turkish Ambassador at Tehran by the Russians.

The volume’s principal correspondents are: Charles Marling, British Minister at Tehran; Esme Howard, British Ambassador to Sweden; Bertie of Thame, British Ambassador to Italy; Mohtashem-es-Sultaneh, Persian Commissioner on the Turco-Persian Frontier; Alfred Hamilton Grant, Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; 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. ; Arthur Prescott Trevor, 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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; British Consuls at Yazd, Kerman (C T Ducat), Sistan and Kain (Francis Beville Pridaux), Batoum (P Stevens), Hamadan (N Patrick Cowan), Shiraz (William Frederick Trevors O'Connor) ; American Minister at Tehran; 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. ; Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Shaikh Hussein of Chahkutah; Imperial Bank of Persia.

There is a document in French, an ultimatum addressed to the British Consul at Shiraz by Le Comité National pour la protection de l'Indépendance Persane. There are newspaper extracts, from Jam-e Jam', Tazineh, Tiflisky Listok, and Hayat.

Extent and format
1 volume (175 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 175; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 3516/1914 Pt 18 'German War: Persia; general situation - 1916' [‎57v] (123/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/493, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044734590.0x00007c> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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