'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎67r] (136/256)

Sir 1 j. Mallet to Sir Edward Gf<aj, dated \lth October 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
Reliable information reaches me that mines are being' sent to Basra, and will reach
J 0
Baghdad in a day or two.
No. 27.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir L. Mdllet, dated \lth October 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
Any attack upon H.M.S. Espiegle by Turkish authorities will be a wanton attack of
aggression, as she is not in Turkish territorial waters. You should inform Turkish Govern
ment that there is no present intentoin of hfer passing down the Shatt-el-Arab, but His
Majesty’s Government consider they have a right to claim that passage so long as Goeben and
Bredau, with German crews and officers, have free use of Turkish territorial waters and the
Straits.
No. 28.
Sir Jj. Mallett to Sir e\ Grey, 6fh October 1914.
Siri
1 have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a note I have addressed to the Grand
Vizier on the subject of the measures the Poroe propose to take against British warships in
the Shatt-el-Arab, expressing the hope that no action be taken which might have serious
consequences.
1 have, <fec.,
Louis Mali.ett.
Enclosure in No 28.
Sir Jj. Mallett to Grand Vizier, 4i/< October 1914.
Your Highness,
1 have just received a telegram from His Majesty’s Oonsulat Basra stating that theVali
has written to him saying that the Porte have communicated to me the measures which they
propose to take against a British man-of-war which is in the Shatt-el-Arab unless it leaves
within 24 hours, and that the Shatt-el-Arab from Fao to Gurna is inland water, like the
Dardanelles, and closed to foreign warships.
I am instructed by His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to enquire on
what grounds the Sublime Porte base their objection to His Majesty’s ship remaining in
Mohammerah, a Persian port ?
In the meantime, I would express the hope that your Highness will instruct the Vali
without loss of time to avoid taking any measures against a British man-of-war which might
have serious consequences at this critical period.
As a matter of fact, H.M.S. Odin left thepliatt-el-Arab some days ago, and I am not aware
what British ship has taken her place.
1 avail, Ac.,
Louis Mallett.
No. 29.
Sir L. Mallett to Sir E. Grey, 19f/t October 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
New Governor-General of Basra with sG army officers, including two German officers,
also six naval officers, including two Germans, and 150 Turkish sailors with three columns of
ammunition, arrived at Alexandretta on morning of 18th October by railway from Constanti
nople. Their final destination is believed to be Basra. 1 am also informed that Maan is their
true destination.
No. 30.
Mr. Cheetham to Sir E. Grey, dated 19th October 1914.
(Telegraphic.)
1 am informed that Bimbashi Gamil, Staff Officer in Turkish Army, Khoga (Imam)
Ali Haider, Khoga (Imam) Amin, and KhogaJ(Imam) Rustom, have left Smyrna in order to
carry on a Turcophile propaganda in India.
No. 31.
Sir L. Mallett to Sir Edward Grey, dated 22nd October 1914.
(Telegraphic-)
A manifesto, the authorship of which is attributed to Sheikh Aziz Shawish, is being
secretly circulated at Beirout. Manifesto bears alleged signatures of 10 representatives of
Moslem countries under foreign rule. It incites Moslem soldiers to mutiny in their I’espective
countries in defence of Islam, and bids them desert the Allies and join Germany. .Whole
tenor is fanatical and inflammatory.