ملف رقم ٣٤٥ لسنة ١٩٠٨ الجزء الثاني "المحمرة: الوضع. نزاع الشيخ مع والي البصرة. تقليد الشيخ وساماً. تجديد التطمينات للشيخ". [و‎‎١‎٤] (٥٦٦/٣٢)

3
Scheme is an unwelcome indication that this apprehension of the penotiation
of Russian influence from the Ispahan direction, cannot be ignored.
From the other direction, the Gulf, we have to cope with increasingly
keen German competition which has steadily developed, first from small
beginnings, at Fingeh, thence to Rahrain, afterwards to basiah and Moham-
merah, and now to the Karun and Ahwaz. Recent instances of it are to be
found in the attempt to compete with Messrs. Lynch s steamers on the Karun,
followed by overtures for the acquisition of a wharf at Ahwaz and icpoited
intentions, not yet confirmed, of competing in the forwarding business to
Ispahan.
9. A consideration of the above paragraphs will, I think, demonstrate that
commercially we need to pursue an active and enterprising policy in ordei to
keep foreign influence and competition at bay, and, secondly, that me
material for substantial progress is there to hand, but that the political
conditions require strengthening before full advantage can be taken o i ,
the need for which assumes special urgency if we are to look to Arabistan tor
the supply of our national needs in the direction of oil luel. .
Before making suggestions as to what steps would seem feasible m the
direction indicated, I beg to state our present position as it appears to me to
be vis-d-vis (i) other Powers, and ( 11 ) the Sheikh of Mohammerah.
10. In the diplomatic field our special position in the Sheikh of
Mohammerah’s territory has received a considerable measure of specno oi
indirect recognition from each of the three Powers entitled to be interested
in the question.
11. Turkey.—At the time of
Vide enclosure to Despatch No. 402,
dated 21st June 1810. Sir G. Lowther to
Sir E. Grey
the Zain incident in 1910 it will be
remembered that Plis Majesty’s Consul,
Basrah, in a communication to the Wali,
referred to Mohammerah as being
“ under British protection.” Since
hen in connection with the Anglo-Turkish Convention, Mohammerah has
l.een the subject of repeated representations to the Porte m which emphasis
has been laid 3 upon the close relations existing between His Majesty s Uovcn
nent and the Sheikh of Mohammerah. These assertions have not only
ii t Ent Ivivp been well received and tacitly accepted and
acted 6 upon ; for example! in the matter of the regulation of the Mohammerah
frontier • in regard to the representation of Mohammerah interests m t le
Riverain Commlsion ; and in connection with the Sheikh s right to purchase
and hold real property in Turkey.
have^rewiftlj^ bemi^discussecrvLli^th^’Russ’iak^oreiiinmnf in Connection
present the actual text of our engagements or assurances has not been
““ifTowever one can judge at all from the opinions expressed and obser-
it, however, °“ e ^ J. 6 officials w i t h whom I or other othcers of this
vations let drop . c former firmly believe, and in conversa-
Residency ^^MoCmerah 5 is under British tutelage,
tion “P.I?* r .£ imaffin^thatour engagements with the Sheikh are much more
and evide y £ tnallv are. I a m thus inclined to surmise that m
far-reaching 1 an . PTlt i v ra i S ed in regard to the wording of the Anglo-
making *6 objectmr not s0 m ® c h to impede us, but rather to use
1 urkish Lorn ention, , SDe cial position in Arabistan as an argument
the fact of our LT'!® yfLIanTor om P part in connection with their own
for the display o 1 < recently informed the Russian Govern-
penetration m the Aortl . _ ' . c , ,1 essential basis of our relations
ment in re PkLwrtrthe Shaikh is the maintenance of his loyalty, as a Persian
and engagements with the bnei SLll) j ect> to the Central Government. It
Vide telegram 628, dated 26th August seems ’ a question for consideration,
1913, from Sir E. Grey to Sir G. Buchanan. it \ ould not be politic at the
present juncture, after overhauling and improving the data, as our interests an