ملف ٤٦٩/ ١٩١٧ جزء ١ "بلاد فارس: شؤون بختياري" [و‎‎١‎١‎٥] (٥٣٥/٢٣٩)

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From Sir 1\ Cox, Basra, lith September 191G.
(Addressed Foreign, repeated to Secretary of State.)
4462. Following from Noel, No. 424, dated 7th, received 14th.
/, “ General Bakhtiari [ cnrrnpt N outwardly satisfactory but cannot
be relied on as stable. I can count upon Mohtashem and I was on Zafar,
Put Muhtashem and various minor Khans
would welcome Russian defeat, and would support secretly, if not openly, an
offensive movement against Ispahan if they thought moment sufficiently
auspicious. ^ .
“ Yesterday a German Consul^Mirza ,Farukhi, arrived from lehran via
K a march (?) with a verbal message from Tehran Khans to Khans here.
From a reliable source l hear message is to lirst exhaust all possible pacific
means to prevent Zil-es Sultan s return, and then to resort to force \vithout
previously avoiding coming into contact with British.
3. “My policy is to force an issue so as to accentuate the breach between
our friends and enemies. Confiscation of Sirishgun was first test case which
nearly led to rupture. • , ^
4* - “If situation gets out of hand most likely issue is that tribesmen to rive
or six thousand will flock to hostile gatherings threatening Ispahan. This
eventuality is, however, much less likely to occur il detachment fiom Svkcs
force remains at Ispahan till middle of November when (?) [corrupt growp]
It should be well on its way to Arabistan. Feeling here is much more anti-
Russian and Zil-es Sultan than anti-Biitish oi pio-German.
5 T “I would again emphasize opinion I have continually expressed, viz.,
that despatch of small regular force to Chahar Mahal and accordance to
friendly Khans is likely to obviate all possibility of Bakhtiari attack on
Ispahan.
k. “If we do not take this step, and enemy send small force with guns to
Bakhtiari country [vide my telegram, No. 417], we must face possibility of
considerable Bakhtiari offensive against Ispahan, and be prepared to see a
brigade or so impotent troops locked up in oil-fields.
Addressed Tehran, repeated Basra, Ispahan.”