File 1110/1916 Pt 2 'Persia: SITUATION Miscellaneous' [‎46v] (97/276)

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The same hand, on April 16th, successfully raided 42 camels laden with
flour for Hazaras which were being escorted by 8 Sistan Levies and one
Hazara. They then left loads behind.
These robbers are probably Raszais—mVte my diary No. 3 of 1915 and
Afghans mentioned in diaries Nos. 3 and 8 of 1916.
182
Telegram P.> No. 143 S., dated the 5th May 1916.
p rom The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Bunder Abbas
(repeated to Tehran).
Please telegraph your views on following telegram from Dyer, No. 364,
dated 29th April“ More forces * * * Kerman.”
183
Telegram P., No. 77 C., dated {and received) the 6th May 1916.
From—L ieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.T.E., C.M.G., Bunder Abbas,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated to Tehran).
I hope to start on May 12th. Anticipate friendly reception at Kerman
owing to present favourable prospect and still consider demonstration from
Sistan might be misunderstood. Is Thorburn acting as suggested by Sistan
Consul’s No. 39 F., April 23rd ?
This is with reference to your telegram of the 5th May, 143 S.
184
Telegram It., No. 305 F., dated the 6th (received 7th) May 1916.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated to Foreign Office and Sykes).
Your telegram, No. 143 S. So far as Germans are concerned, I gather
that Kerman is safe enough, while such information as 1 have of Afghanistan
affairs leads me to suppose that there is little ground for apprehending any
move westwards from that side.
I consider that, in the circumstances, our minor interests in Kerman
should make way for our greater interests in Pars where conditions though
immensely improved are still very far from satisfactory and where Intelligence
(all ?) Department (?) state that continued unrest exists.
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has suggested that Farman Farma
should be appointed Governor-General of Pars. I had already asked Sir
P. Cox’s views on such an appointment with a view to recommending it to
Foreign Office, and finding that he approves I warmly supported the idea.
In pursuance of this policy I think General Dyer might with advantage pro
ceed as suggested to Bam and Rigan and even Kerman as his presence in the
proyince will guarantee maintenance of order and that Sykes should move as
soon as possible to Shiraz and lay foundations of military police there.
It seems to me very necessary that, as counterpart to predominant influ
ence Russians have acquired in Northern Persia, we should make good for
ourselves in that part of south where our various interests lie.