File 1110/1916 Pt 1 'Persia: SITUATION (JAN-APL 1916). Miscellaneous' [‎164r] (332/550)

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190
Telegram R., No. 4)01, dated (and received) the 19th February 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. ,
1° The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Delhi.
(Addressed to Tehran ; repeated to Basrah.)
German agents. His Majesty’s Representative at Bunder Abbas tele
graphs numerous reports from Kerman and other sources point to movement
of considerable German parties towards Sistan and Baluchistan with avowed
(?) object of proceeding thence to Afghanistan and India.
2. German ‘'Consul” (apparently Zugmeyer) has left Kerman for Sirjan
on the. way to Darab with machine gun and ammunition on invitation of some
of anti-Kawam chiefs.
194
No. 28-C., dated Sistan, the 5th (received 19th) February 1916.
From— Major F. B. Prideaux, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan
and Kain,
To—The Foreign Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Delhi.
With reference to correspondence ending with my telegram No. 10-F.,
dated the 27th January iD16, on the sub
ject of the Governorship of Kainat and Sis
tan, I have the honour to enclose copies of
the marginally noted correspondence.
2. On the 21st January I had asked
Mr. New by ‘ log ’ telegram to tell the
Governor that though I had written to
him very unfavourably about his 3 mili
tary Commanders I might still modify
my opinion about them, if they showed
themselves ready at once to make arrange
ments for catching the Germans.
3. I should explain that His Excellency
was previously well aware of my opinion
about the 3 men, as I had already showm to him last winter that I considered
that two of them were unworthy of their appointments owing to the fact that
they had shown themselves unwilling to meet even the Sarhaddis and Afghan
robbers to deal with whom they had been brought to Sistan. I had also
accused them a few weeks ago of being all pro-German.
4. The letter and telegram from His Excellency, of which translations are
attached, show, I fear, that there is no hope of the present Governor allying
himself informally with our side. I doubt even if he would be happy to do so
should his Government openly declare w'ar against Turkey and her allies.
5. His Excellency has been ill with fever for several days past and he has
still to reply to my telegram of the 2nd instant (possibly delivered to him on
4th), but I do not expect him to change his attitude.
6. In these circumstances, I presume that we are committed to the policy
of trusting Hisam-ud-Dauleh to co-operate openly and loyally with us against
the Germans and Turks.
Personally I view the future with misgiving, as I have not been favoured
with any information as to why the Russians feel so confident in the sincerity
of their friend and in his power to make the troops and people of Kainat
assist us materially.
1. Telegram No. 47, dated the 24th January
1916, from His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul,
Birjand, to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Sistan
and Kain.
2. Translation of telegram, dated the 28th
January from His Britannic Majesty’s Con
sul, Sistan and Kain, to His Excellency Shaukat-
ul-Mulk.
3. Letter, dated 25th January 1916, from His
Excellency Shaukat-ul-Mulk to His Britannic
Majesty’s Consul, Sistau and Kain.
4. Translation of telegram, dated the 2nd Feb
ruary 1916. from His Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
Sistan and Kain, to His Excellency Shaukat-ul-
Mulk.
6. Translation of telegram, dated the Hh Feb
ruary 1916, from His Excellency Shaukat-ul-Mulk
to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Sistan and
Kain,