File 1110/1916 Pt 3 'German War: Persia' [‎70v] (145/354)

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Telegram P., No. I.-G. 3187, dated the 3rd July 1916.
From— The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D ”, Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
Continuation my I.-G. 3143, 28th June. With regard to the inndvis-
ability of making any terms with Khans except possibly a simple exchange of
prisoners, the General Officer Commanding, Bushire, is in entire agreement with
Cox and Treyor. Any concession will, I feel confident, be disastrous in the
future to our position.
194
Telegram R., No. 1420, dated the 6th (received 7th) July 1916%
From—The 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 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.
Najef Kban (the Indian officer sent by Intelligence Branch with Kawam
to Shiraz) in his report, dated 18th June states that among other things that—
(1) Soulet is in brisk correspondence with Mirza Muzaffar Khan of the
Bussian Consulate, Ispahan.
(2) He has become great admirer of the Russians, he announced that
Bussians captured Baghdad on 15th May and generally extols their prowess.
(3) He and Kawam and other notables of Shiraz, are now more in favour
of Bussians than ourselves.
In a later report, which is dated 25th June, Najef writes —
(1) That Kawam was ordered to make over arms and arsenal to Barman
Barma’s deputy, but be declined on ground that his father gave us a receipt
for the weapons.
(2) That since this event there has been reapproachment between Kawam
and Soulet and they have made posts and placed pickets of riflemen in various
parts of the town.
(3) That they have spread reports that Barman Barma has been killed on
the way to Shiraz and there is trouble.
Najef anticipates trouble in Shiraz. I am not in a position to say what
reliance can be paid to these statements. Bact that Soulet is in correspond
ence with Bussians and pleased in their kind treatment is confirmed by
H. Malcolm. When Najef wrote Kawam w r as irritated by non-receipt of money.
He has since received the £5,000 referred to in Boreign Department telegram
No. 299 S., 18tb June, and is more contented.
Addressed to Tehran; repeated to Sykes, Basrah, by post.
Telegram P., No. 434 F., dated (and received) the 7th July 1916.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
Please refer to my telegram, No. 431. Bollowing information, dated
5th July, has been sent by Baratow to Bussian Minister :—
Turks are entrenching themselves on heights of Bisetun, eight miles
west of which we have placed our advance guards. Enemy is in constant
contact with our patrols.
Addressed to Boreign Office j (sent to ?).