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File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [‎255r] (517/531)

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

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Prom Bush ire, 2()th November 1915.
(Addressed to Minister at Tehran, repealed to Noreign, Secretary of
\ State for India, and Cox.)
/O'.) C. My telegram No. 705 C 1 . Shiraz ladies. Mrs. Ferguson, wife of the
manager of the Imperial Hank of Persia and two daughters, and Mrs. Smith,
wile of the Assistant Superintendent Indo-European Telegraph Department,
were brought here under escort and handed over this afternoon ; all well'
Mrs. Ferguson says were well treated but were received with hostile
demonstration at Kasarun and Kumarij. The male members of the party
O’Connor, Ferguson, Ayrton (bank accountant) Smith, one telegraph clerk,
Livingstone (merchant), a Cingalese clerk, and the escort of sowars, were
taken away after leaving Borazjun and have been removed to the neighbour
hood ol Ahram, where they are apparently in charge of Tangistan Khans
(represented by Sheikh Hussain’s son) and Wassmuss. Tukvoii.
From Bush ire, 21 st November 1915.
(Repeated by request of local manager to Tehran for communication to Chief
Manager of Imperial Bank of Persia, if necessary, repeated to Foreign
Jor favour of communication (if thought Jit) to His Excellency the
l iceroy to whom Mrs. Ferguson wished to send similar telegram.)
711 ( (H.) My telegram No. 709 C. Mrs. Ferguson, wife of Shiraz
manager, wished to send following telegram to Imperial Hank of Persia,
London, on behalf of Shiraz manager, but I have stopped it and told her
that 1 would communicate it to you for communication to the Hank if vou
see fit:—
' l Cn 10th November European Hank staff arrested by Persian
gendarmerie without any warning while proceeding to the ofliee. Hank
seized, stall immediately deported, all personal private propertv gone.
Ferguson’s family sent to Bushire, but Ferguson, Ayrton and Misso. chief
clerk, detained prisoners and in the hands of I'angistani tribes and
Wassmuss, whereabouts unknown and position very perilous. Will be
released, I am informed, on tribal demands being granted, otherwise
immediate war threatened involving danger to their lives. Prompt
concession imperative. Ferguson’s wife made the bearer of the terms by
Sheikh Hussain, leader of this popular movement, which involves the whole
of Southern Persia. Please do your utmost, only three days allowed by
Chiefs for consideration of reply.”

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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
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File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [‎255r] (517/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/582, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069884884.0x000076> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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