File 464/1917 Pt 2 'Persia: Bushire hinterland situation' [‎103r] (212/600)

2. On the facts before them, the Government of India consider that
there are sufficient grounds to warrant the internment of Saiyid Mustapha, who
appears to have been in close touch with the German and Turkish agents in
Herat. There seems to be no object in sending him to Bombay or Peshawar,
where he alleges he has acquaintances, and the Government ‘ of India have
decided that he should be interned in Quetta for the present.
3. The evidence against him, however, is not very strong, while the facts
that he went to Afghanistan before the war and is an elderly man are in his
favour. I am to suggest, therefore, that he be further examined at leisure.
Should his continued internment appear to you to be unnecessary, proposals
for his disposal otherwise should be submitted.
21
No. 4433-67-6, dated Basrah, the 23rd March (received 2nd April) 1917.
Endorsed by Deputy Chief Political Officer.
Copy forwarded with compliments to the Secretary to the Government of
India in the Foreign and Political Department, with reference to their tele
gram 371-S., dated 22nd March 1917.
{Enclosure.)
Telegram P., No. 1, dated the 7th (received 12th) January 1917.
From— Captain E. W. C. Noel, His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Deh Kurd,
To—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran (repeated Basrah, Ispahan).
I found, on my return to Bakhtiari, that during my six weeks* absence
Amir Mujahid had been busily intriguing with result that the whole of the,
Illkhani family were unanimous in refusing to acknowledge Mohtasham as
Illkhani. The latter, moreover, had been so intimidated that he insisted on
resigning. In his intrigues Amir Mujahid was assisted by news of recent
occupation of Oil Fields by onr troops and tightening of our control at
Shushter and Dizful where Bakhtiaris claim special interests. Both these
matters have raised considerable resentment which Mujahid cleverly turned
against Mohtasham by representing that, with his supine attitude and friendli
ness to the British, he was selling his country’s interests.
Intrigue was further assisted by recent overtures made by Zill-es-Sultan
and Russians to Bakhtiaris and also by fact that Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Zaffar is still sore at
liis dismissal from Kerman and that he has not come in for any share of secret
service payments.
In view of Shiraz situation and our frequent use of Lynch road it seemed
to me desirable to go to considerable lengths to break up hostile combina
tion and persuade Mohtasham to carry on. This I succeeded in doing by
buying over Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Zaffar by the offer of assisting him in settlement of^ his
claims against Persian Government, and promising him my support as next
candidate for the Illkhauiship.
Zaffar, in return, transferred his support to Mohtasham and agreed to go
to India for eight months. H.e is one of strongest men in Bakhtiari, he is at
heart friendly and is likely to prove useful to us in the future.
For these reasons I trust that arrangements may be made to do him well
during his visit.
It is only natural that Mujahid should be annoyed at being worsted, but
his resentment is now directed much more against Zaffar than Mohtasbam.
He and Morteza Quli Khan threatened to go over to the Russians.
Mujahid rook much to heart your order of expulsion from Bakhtiari.
Finally, i consented to giving him a month’s grace on condition that he visited
Mohtasham, apologized to him for his past conduct and swore loyalty to him
for the future. It is impossible to feel any confidence in the individual, but