ملف رقم ٣٤٥ لسنة ١٩٠٨ الجزء الثاني "المحمرة: الوضع. نزاع الشيخ مع والي البصرة. تقليد الشيخ وساماً. تجديد التطمينات للشيخ". [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٤] (٥٦٦/٤١٢)

I am sending a copy to the resident in Bushire, and have little doubt that
the latter will mention the matter to the sheikh when he comes up here, as is expected
shortly.
As regards the vali’s claim to jurisdiction over Muhammad Chanan, I ought to point
^ut that he is the chief of one of the principal tribes of the Sheikh ol Mohammerah,
from whom the latter derives much of his strength, influence, and revenue. He^ is, I
believe, undoubtedly a Persian subject, born and bred in Persia, and only transferred
to his present abode within the last decade, after a chequered career in other parts of
Arabistan. I am obtaining more definite information on the subject.
For the sheikh to hand over such a man to the Turkish authorities is unprecedented,^
and difficult in the extreme and you could perhaps suggest this point to the vali, if
opportunity offers ; it is not a case of surrendering an ordinary malefactor, but a
headman of the most powerful tribe in the district of Mohammerah.
Haji Athbi is another important tribal leader domiciled in Turkey in Umm-ur-
Rassas, but undoubtedly in my belief a Persian subject, as he has only recently moved
there, with most of his men, and in any case he and his tribe have always been recognised
as Persian subjects, and have always fought for the sheikh in his wars.
For the precise position of the houses of the two men please see my map of the
Shatt-el-Arab, sent to you in December.
I understand that Persia and Turkey have their own arrangements regarding
jurisdiction and extradition, but whether this is the case or not, I venture to think that
the vali would do well to recognise that the case of Muhammad Chanan is not on all fours
with other cases of extradition of criminals, in which he has had reason to complain.
This, of course, with no prejudice to the rights and wrongs of the general question.
Muhammad Chanan and Haji Athbi are members of the tribal council which meets
at Failieh, and were amongst the eight tribal leaders who signed the agreement
between the sheikh and the oil company, with reference to the land required for refinery
and pipe line.
I hope to come to Bussorah next Sunday and will discuss this question with you
personally.
Yours sincerely,
A. T. WILSON.
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Wilson to Consul Crow.
My dear Crow, Mohammerah, April 26, 1910.
PLEASE refer to my D.O. of the 24th instant on the subject of the Sheikh of
Mohammerah and the vali of Bussorah.
I left Bussorah at midday on the 25th, and at P30 p.m. passed the “ Marmaris,”
which was returning to Bussorah. On my return to Mohammerah I learnt that at
about midday the village of Muhammad Chanan, in Zain (Turkish territory), opposite
Mohammerah, had been burnt and looted by Turkish soldiers, and that ten shots had
been fired from the ship’s guns. .
I saw Mirza Hamza and urged him to keep people quiet, and then went with Haji
Mushir, son of Haji Reis, to view the damage and ascertain the real facts.
It appears that about forty Turkish soldiers were sent by land and an equal number
by river to Muhammad Chanan’s village, which they looted and burnt to the number of
about sixty huts, some of which were quite unconnected with Muhammad Chanan.
They did as much wanton damage as they could, burning planks, bellams, doors, &c.
They then retired, and shortly afterwards the gun-boat opened fire, smashing down
several date trees and doing some damage to the house, not of Muhammad Chanan,
but of Haji Gulfidan, wife of the late Sheikh Haji Jabir, and mother of the present
sheikh. • . i i r*
I surmise with what accuracy I cannot say—that the gun-boat intended to fire on
Muhammad Chanan’s house, but missed it and hit the house of the old lady, which is in
the line of fire. His Excellency Sheikh Khazal is now in Ahwaz, but will, I expect,
shortly return. .
I have wired to Colonel Cox giving him a brief account of what occurred.
Mirza Hamza tells me that on the 25th soldiers from the “ Marmaris ” demanded
the persons of Muhammad Chanan, Haji Athbi, and Barak-bin-Nafta, brother of Haji
Arak. The second-named is head of the Umm-ur-Rassas tribe, which is tributary to