File 3516/1914 Pt 7 'German War: Persia' [‎121v] (247/519)

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Telegram R,, dated the 13th (received 14th) May 1915.
jr rom The Hon’ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sie Peect Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.,
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. , Basrah,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
My telegram, No. 1093 B., 11th May.
Following from Shiraz, dated 12th May :—
Begins. A angman has informed me that owing to lack of funds gendarmes
have not been paid for four months and are showing signs of mutiny and that
therefore they cannot be trusted to escort bank treasure from Bushire to
Shiraz.
In spite of want of money new recruits are being enlisted daily and
expedition which still remains at Kazerun involves extra cost of some eighty
tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. daily.
Addressed Tehran ; repeated Basrah, Bushire. Ends.
Second telegram, dated 12th May :— Begins. Pravitz who leaves for
Tehran to-mon-ow has just called to inform me that orders have been (received)
from Tehran that Ears regiment gendarmerie is to proceed forthwith to Tehran.
They are to start 19th May, if possible. x
Addressed Tehran; repeated Basrah, Bushire.
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Telegram P., No. 491 S., dated the 14th May 1915.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran.
Is your telegram, No. 48, of the 8th instant identical with No. 161 to Sir
Percy Cox ? An immediate reply will greatly oblige.
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Telegram P., No. S. 493, dated the 15th May 1915.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla,
To—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London (repeated to Sir P Cox
and Tehran).
Persian situation. Please refer to Sir Cox’s telegrams, Nos. 1081 B.
to 1083 B., inclusive, of 10th instant.
Our policy should, until a rupture actually occurs, be to endeavour to
induce the Khans by friendly representation to prevent isolated attacks on
our Consulates and officers and to protect our interests generally. Bv disburse
ments of secret service money which we have already authoiised this attitude
can be encouraged.
My view is that, if unfortunately war with Persia should breakout, we
should leave Bushire hinterland and Ears severely alone, and merelv hold the
Bushire peninsula itself if we have the troops available. To commit ourselves
etther to Soulet or Ka warn in Ears, or to entangle ourselves in a mesh of inter
tribal intrigue in the Bushire hinterland, seems to me to be useless. Should
occasion arise and in the event of their extricating our Consul and his staff
from Shiraz, Kawam and Soulet might be given a liberal sum for service
rendered and be promised generally, in proportion to their services hereafter,
rewards and recognition. But only in the event of the outbreak of war should
such promises be given. We shall on the conclusion of war want to deal not
merely with Chiefs to whom we have committed ourselves but with de facto