File 1110/1916 Pt 1 'Persia: SITUATION (JAN-APL 1916). Miscellaneous' [‎268r] (540/550)

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Telegram P., No. 248-D. 8., dated the 18th January 1916.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Delhi,
To—The Deputy Political Kesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(Repeated to His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran, and Sir P. Cox, Basrah.)
Kawam. Your telegram 12-58 of 9th January, and Cox’s telegram 190-B.
of 16th January. Government of India think that, if possible, Kawam should
be invited to Bunder Abbas or even to Bushire in order that plans may be
discussed satisfactorily. If you are satisfied after discussion that he can deal
with situation, you are authorised to give him ammunition available at Bushire.
Government can supply one hundred thousand M. H. ammunition also. You
are further authorised to pay Kawam fifty thousand pounds, either in lump
sum or in instalments, according as you may think fit. Cox will do his best
to obtain any Turkish captured weapons and ammunition that may be avail
able. Maxims and dynamite are not available, but in lieu of latter one thou
sand lbs. of blasting gunpowder, with safety fuses, could be supplied, if required.
You should satisfy yourself that sufficient safeguards exist to prevent arms
and money given to Kawam falling into hands of enemy. Please report on this
point.
You should further impress on Kawam that release of O’Connor and his
party is first desideratum, and that we expect him as representative of Persian
Government to take urgent steps to this end.
57
Telegram R., No. 170, dated the 19th (received 20th) January 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. , Bushire,
To —The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi.
(Addressed to Tehran and repeated to Foreign Department, Delhi, and Basrah.)
Pars situation.
Nizam has received letter from Kawam and yesterday resuscitated latter’s
complaint to His Majesty’s Representative, Bunder Abbas.
It appears Kawam is exercised by failure of Persian Government to reply
to his telegrams for past month and to indicate to him clearly their policy
in Pars.
He asks firstly that he should receive clear information from Persian
Government of their policy and whether they are working in accord with
British and Russian Governments. Secondly whether the Persian British
Governments intend to assist him and to what extent: this is necessary
to enable him to shape his own lines of action. Vice-Consul assured Nizam
that our Governments are in complete accord but latter said that absence ol
instructions to this effect from Persian Government was suspicious and that
mild and polite tone of the Prime Minister’s telegram to Mansur gave colour
to idea that all was not well.
Nizam urged that necessity for royal proclamation re-affirming that
Kawam is Deputy Governor-General of Pars and directing him to suppress
rebellion, etc , as a counter blast to recent forged proclamation published by
rebels that Kawam had been dismissed. He a 1 su laid stress on necessity for
promptitude in giving assistance as delay would make operations more difficult
and result in more defections to the enemy.
Jived on 23 FEH ] 0 l u with
INDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. No. 3 M