File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎122v] (255/345)

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to propitiate them given assistance in small way to Germans. I am extremely
doubtful that he would have given us sufficient proofs of his British partisan
ship this month and I was preparing for change of Governors but results
might have been satisfactory as we have been pressing him hard. Haig’s
information seems all to come either from Russian officers, who have not the
same knowledge of Kainat as British Vice-Consul and myself, or from the
partisans of Hisam ud (Daula ?). Colonel Haig communicated to me recently
as a serious item report furnished by acquaintance of Hisam that Governor
had released Ali Akbar the spy and had given him 200 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. but this has
proved quite untrue.
I persistently lepresented last summer that Imad-ud-Mulk was openly
assisting the Germans in Tabbas and should be punished. The Russians on the
contrary [made him Governor. I hear to-day that in Tabbas there are 400
German sowars.
Before interfering with Kainat I think that Russians in Khorasan mi^ht
set their own houses in order.
I am, I think, entitled to protest, with all respect, against His Britannic
Majesty's Minister’s sudden decision before I had time to submit my opinion
on the telegram from Meshed.
I consider the proposal to arrest Shaukat is most ill-advised. It would set
the whole population against us and from the point of view of the Germans
who only seem to wish to enter Afghanistan, it would create a most opportune
diversion.
Shaukat is neither an idiot nor a fanatic. It has been his one desire to
establish a reputation for impartiality. He knows better than to undertake
active hostilities against Russia and India.
I have just heard that Hisam has married Governor-General of Khorasan’s
niece. The Governor-General’s opposition to Hisam’s appointment at Gunabad
may have been a trick merely.
101
Telegram P., No. 11-F., dated the 27th (received 29th) January 1916.
From Major F^ B. Prideaux, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Sistan
and Kain,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Delhi.
Seiler despatched three letters from Dehsalm to Neh (1) to our Hazaras,
(2) to Deputy Governor, (3) to people (5f Neh,
The last on the list was signed by a Sayyid. The first was brought to
Mr. Lovell, Telegraph clerk, immediately by Deputy Governor and Persian
telegraph master. To-day second and third have been given to him. Their
tone proves clearly that there is no collusion between Germans and Deputy
Governor and we cannot (?) Shaukat. In his letter to Deputy Governor
Seiler refers to bombardment of Meshed Mosque.
All three letters beg for assistance against British. Though only thirty
rifles remained with Lovell at Neh when our troops moved west none met with
any response.
This furnished better proof than any bazar gossip which goes to Turbat-i- !
Haidari, Meshed and Askabad (of) neutrality of Kainat officials.
102
Telegram P., No. 12-F., dated the 28th (received 29th) January 1916.
From—His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Sistan and Kain,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Delhi.
Please see my telegram No. 8-P., of the 21st January. Statement of
Wmckelmann is as follows:—
On January 8th Seiler and Lieutenant Waldmann left Khabis with Ifi
Persians and 1 Indian prisoner of war. I started somewhat ? later with 3
i