File 3443/1914 Pt 2 'German War: German emissaries to Afghanistan' [‎230r] (472/490)

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From Vicerotj, 3rd July 191
Foreign Secret. Your telegram of the 25th ultimo. We have authorised
the following steps to counter German agents in Persia and to prevent their
entering into Afghanistan :—
(1.) Consul, Kerman, has been instructed to spend Secret Service money
freely with object of putting leading men against such parties, getting them
boycotted, and collecting information with regard to their numbers, move
ments and -eawpai gns— which information he will at once pass on to
Consul, Seistau, and Agent to the Governor-General, Baluchistan.
(2.) Agent to the Governor-General, Baluchistan, has been instructed to
authorise Political Officers on the Perso-Baluchistan frontier to spend money
freely in collecting information, and to proceed against any party of German
agents approaching the frontier, with militia and such local forces as ma\
be available, and to destroy them. . .
(3.) Consul, Seistan, has been instructed to collect information in similar
manner and to co-operate with the Officer Commanding the hobat detach
ment, which will be reinforced by two squadrons cavalry, two machine guns,
and, if possible, detachment of Imperial Service Camel Corps. If German
parties enter Seistan, Officer Commanding is authorised if possible to
intercept and destroy them with this force.
(4.) Consul-General, Meshed, has been asked to arrange with his Russian
colleague if possible for Russian troops to capture or annihilate any party of
Germans attempting to enter Afghanistan via Birjand or Meshed, and to
collect information and pass it on as in other cases.
I am writing to the Amir warning him of the possible advent of German
parties to Afghanistan, and advising him to have them arrested, disarmed
and interned pending conclusion of war. I do not think it wise to suggest
deportation to India as this would be contrary to ordinary rule of neutrality,
and might make Amir suspect that we were trying to embroil him with
Cjt nxiciiis
^Information reported by Russian Government regarding distribution of
rifles in Afghanistan and intended despatch of Afghan troops to Meshed is
so far as we know, baseless. Similar report was received by Consul-General
for Persia and contradicted by us.
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