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File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [5r] (14/531)
The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in 18 Nov 1915-4 Sep 1916. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Telepram R.No.1557, dated the 27th (received 28th)
July, 1916.
From - Tlie 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, Bushire,
To - The Secretary to the Government of India in
the Foreifm and Political Department, Simla.
Ahram.-Zair Khidar delayed more than a week before
answering my first letter saying that I had been
authorised to negotiate for release of prisoners and
suggesting that an exchange between them and Tangistani
prisoners might be effected on a certain date. He now
writes W A11 we wrote said and asked general reconciliation
has been productive of no result. Now, indeed, I do not
believe anything can be settled with you. I say to
myself that if I continue negotiations they may produce
no result. It would be better for me to wait and put my
trust in God and remain hoping in Him".
This is not very promising; I have replied that during
period mentioned I was not authorised to negotiate
whereas I now am, and I hope some result will be reached.
2. Letter received from O’Connor stating that r r.Christmas
is very ill indeed. Rave written to Zair Khidar urging
him to release Christmas without prejudice to other
negotiations and guaranteeing to release two Tangistani
prisoners in exchange;^also pointed out what serious
matter it would be if illness had fatal results.
Addressed Cox; repeated Foreign.
327
Telegram R., No. 1584, dated the 30th (received 31st) July 1910.
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.
My telegram No. 1557.
Reference second paragraph. I received very insolent reply from Sheikh
Hussein absolutely declining to exchange Christmas and saying that only way
to obtain release of prisoners (other than by killing Sheikh Hussein and all hi9
people) is—(1) by returning cash and tea confiscated ; (2) giving assurances
re road.
2. Reference paragraph one, received letter from O’Connor last
evening saying that he had seen my letter of July 15th to Zair Khidar
suggesting exchange of prisoners and that latter was quite willing to exchange
provided of course that his other two conditions of restoration of cash and tea
and assurance about opening the road are complied with.
In view of fact that whole object of negotiations is to get prisoners away
out of the heat quickly, it seems useless to make further delay by haggling.
It is also undignified in view of the fact that Khans are set on getting their
conditions and in the end we shall have to concede them if we wish to get
prisoners out soon. I propose therefore to reply to Khans on following
lines : if the Khans agree to exchange prisoners on certain date, I will have
Tangistani prisoners at spot fixed and agree to make following concessions
in addition. As regards confiscated cash, I will produce Haji Rais-ut-Tujjar’s
receipt showing that amount (10,000
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
) which was confiscated when in
deposit with him has been refunded. We however reserve the right to claim
from Sheikh Hussein the sum of about 2,500
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
, which was paid out in
compensation to sufferers in the raids last August. As regards tea, it is
deposited in Bushire Custom House godowns and a certificate to that effect
from Director will be produced.
As regards opening the road, after exchange of prisoners all prohibitions
against the use of any road will be withdrawn. So will restrictions by sea
except customs preventive work. Traffic across Mashileh will be permitted
during day and will be regulated by military. Khans, for their part, should
give facilities for repairing telegraph lines, and if these not given within, say, 15
days, or if lines again cut after repair, we reserve right to close road again.
Similarly in the case of robberies or disturbances taking place on road or mis
behaviour of tribes.
This, I suggest, might he offered to Khans on a “ take it or leave it ”
basis, though perhaps the tea being in custom house would be stumbling block
and might require modification.
Addressed Cox.
309.
About this item
- Content
The file contains papers relating to the arrest at Shiraz by the Persian gendarmerie on 10 November 1915 of HM Consul at Shiraz (Major William Frederick Travers O’Connor), the Manager and other employees of the Imperial Bank of Persia at Shiraz, the Superintendent of the Shiraz section and other employees of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, and other British subjects.
The papers also concern: the arrested British men being deported to Borazjun [Borazjan, also spelled Borasgun in the volume] with their wives and families, from where the female members of the group were sent to Bushire, and most of the men were moved to the neighbourhood of Ahram, where they were held prisoners of the Tangistani Khans and the German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss; negotiations for the release of the prisoners, including the possibility of the release of captured German or Austrian or Tangistani prisoners in exchange for the release of the British prisoners; the release of all the Ahram prisoners except Major O’Connor on 10 August 1916, and the subsequent release of Major O’Connor on 20 August 1916.
The main correspondents include: the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Foreign Office; HM Minister, Tehran (Sir Charles Murray Marling); the 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. , and 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. (Arthur Prescott Trevor); the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; Jess Christmas (whose husband, an official of the Indo European Telegraph Department, was one of the British subjects being held captive); and Livingstone Zeytoon and Company, Manchester.
The papers consist of correspondence and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Political and Secret Department minute papers.
The file includes three documents in French: a note verbale from the French Ambassador to London, Paul Cambon, 6 February 1916; a telegram from Aristide Briand, Prime Minister of France, to Cambon, 4 February 1916; and a note from the German Minister in Athens to the Greek Government, February 1916.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (260 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 334 (Pt 1 German War - Persia, and Pt 2 Persia) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/582-583. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 262; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [5r] (14/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/582, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069884882.0x00000f> [accessed 10 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/582
- Title
- File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:31v, 33r:56v, 58r:91v, 94r:116v, 117ar:117av, 117r:157v, 160r:166v, 167ar, 167r:175v, 178r:201v, 204r:211v, 215r:217v, 220r:229v, 231r:237v, 242r:243v, 249r:254v, 255v:261v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence