'BRITISH RELATIONS WITH KHAZAL, SHEIKH OF MOHAMMERAH.' [‎6v] (12/24)

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E 11666/1416/
34/1923.
E 263/263/34/
1924.
E11731/1416/
34/1923.
essential that the friends of the British Government in Persia should be the
friends of the Persian Government also, and said that he was convinced that the
Minister of War harboured no sinister intentions towards the Sheikh, adding
that the sincerity of Reza Khan’s promises could only be proved by time, and
that the Sheikh must give him an opportunity of translating his words into
action. The Sheikh said that he could put no faith in Persian promises, where
upon Sir P. Loraine asked him bluntly whether he expected the British Govern
ment to go to war with Persia in order to maintain the Sheikh in his position
of semi-independence. The Sheikh protested that he did not wish to be a source
of embarrassment to the British Government, but felt compelled to voice his fears;
he would loyally carry out any instructions which His Majesty’s Minister might
give him, and if he found his authority being undermined he would inform
Sir P. Loraine and rely upon him to find a solution. Sir P. Loraine replied that
he would at all times do his best to protect the Sheikh and that the continuance
of the latter’s existing friendly relations with the Persian Government and
especially with Reza Khan provided the best guarantee of his ability to ensure
that protection.
36. At a later interview on the 16th October, the Sheikh showed his
readiness to throw in his lot with Reza Khan, having had a satisfactory interview
the previous day with Colonel Baqir Khan, the Persian commander at Shushtar.
The Sheikh was anxious to have a personal interview with Reza Khan and
suggested that he should offer the latter two armoured cars. On his return to
Tehran Sir P. Loraine gave Reza Khan on the 22nd October a brief account of
what had passed. Reza Khan expressed his readiness to meet the Sheikh and
promised to arrange this as soon as possible; he accepted the gift of armoured
cars not for himself personally but on behalf of the army and the nation; and he
promised to look after the Sheikh’s second son on his arrival at Tehran as a
Deputy in the Majlis. The satisfactory settlement of the revenue dispute
followed in mid-November and early in December Sir P. Loraine reported that,
acting on his advice, the Sheikh had adjusted the agreement to suit the wishes
of Reza Khan in regard to the non-deduction by the Sheikh of amounts spent on
maintaining armed forces under his own control. The year thus closed with
matters about as satisfactory as they could be, given the circumstances, but the
Foreign Office had grave doubts whether the existing good relations between the
Sheikh and Reza Khan (who had assumed the Premiership at the end of October)
could long continue.
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Administration
Report for
1924, p. 50
(Persia 35).
The Rebellion of the Sheikh, 1924.
37. No major dispute arose between the Sheikh and the Central Govern
ment during the first half of 1924, during which Reza Khan seems to have resorted
to a policy of infiltration into the Sheikh’s territories. Thus, the Persian Govern
ment announced their intention of sending a Karguzar to Abadan, who was also
to act as Deputy Governor; the Adliyeh at Shushtar began to summon Arabs
living in the Sheikh’s territories to attend the Court ; a salt monopoly was given
to an Iraqi subject without the Sheikh’s being consulted; contrary to the arrange
ments regarding indirect taxes, a Rais-al-Baladiyeh was appointed for Abadan;
steps were taken to assess the value of the Sheikh's date gardens with a view to
further taxation; heads of Persian departments in Ahwaz, at the instigation,
it was believed, of the Russian Consul, met constantly and abused the Sheikh and
the Persian commander, Arabistan (now re-named Khuzistan), did his best to
foment trouble among the Arab tribes. But at the beginning of the year Reza
Khan had other and more important matters in hand. Shortly after the Minister
of War had assumed the premiership, the Shah, feeling himself powerless to resist
the encroaching influence of his Prime Minister and fearing for his own personal
safety, decided to visit Europe and keep out of the way. His absence added
strength to the Republican movement, with which Reza Khan’s name became
associated, but the movement collapsed at the end of March and Reza Khan’s
prestige and influence reached their lowest level ; he resigned early in April but
quickly resumed the premiership on being invited by the Majlis to return. It
is also worth recording, because it was a matter of concern to Sheikh Khazal, that
there had been considerable changes in British official personnel with whom he
had had dealings in the past: Sir P. Loraine was absent on leave from Tehran
and Mr. Ovey was in charge of the Legation between the 28th March and the
15th November; Sir P. Cox, who had had so many dealings with the Sheikh and
who, as High Commissioner at Bagdad, had not been so far removed
geographically, had retired in 1923; and Colonel Trevor, 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. ,
who had served continuously in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. since 1912, left Bushire in April
1924. At a farewell interview with the Sheikh early in March, Colonel Trevor