File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎186v] (377/1044)

6. Numerous telegrams from the Persian Prime Minister (H. R. H.Parman
Parma) for Soulet-ud-Douleh, Nasir-ul-Mulk, the Qawam and rebel Khans
have been received in the course of the month. They contained the information
that the Swedish Gendarmerie officers had been dismissed and were guilty in the
eyes of both Persian and Swedish Governments : that Persian officers and men
must be disarmed, and would be liable to the severest penalties if they persisted
any longer in opposing Qawam-ul-Mulk. Nasir-ul-Mulk was ordered to abstain
from all co-opcration with rebels : Qawam was told that Persian Government
had heard with astonishment of his departure from Shiraz, that he might remain
a week to collect his forces^but must then re-enter the town and punish the
rebels, that assistance was being arranged for him by Persian Government and
would reach him sooner than he expected. (Later he was instructed
m
- - i - \ ~ ^ 1 JJ,
supersession of these orders to proceed to Bandar Abbas to facilitate communi
cation with Tehran). Soulet-ud-Douleh was ordered to join Qawam with
all the men he could raise and re-instate Qawam in Shiraz. All of them
were warned that 30,000 Russian troops were rapidly reaching Ispahan and
Kirmanshah and that if the Pars magnates did not crush rebellion themselves
there would be no stopping Russians from entering Pars. Copies of these
telegrams have been widely distributed under Darya Begi’s seal. The friendly
Khans of the littoral, including Haidar Khan and Shabankareh, are praised in
one telegram for their good sense in keeping aloof from the rebels and are
urged to assist with their forces wTien the moment comes. A telegram to the
insurgent Chiefs Shaikh Hussain and Zair Khidhar was however so mild
in tone that Darya Begi declined to send it to addressees. Soulet-ud-Douleh
at the begining of the month was still at Basht ; at the end of it he was
reported to be at or near Bidshahr in Lar with the apparent intention of
meeting Qawam. Copies of telegrams from Soulet to His Majesty the Shah
and the “ National Committee ” have been received here. In the former
Soulet considers himself absolved from all obedience if the Persian Govern
ment adopts a hostile attitude tov/ards the Turkish Government : in the latter
Soulet says that the “ Nation ” should call upon him and if a force is necessary
for Borasj un the Committee should let him know at once. It was further
reported that by order of the Bakhtiari Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. and Ilbegi their Deputy
Governors at Behbehan were trying to send a Kughailu/ force
^against Soulet and to co-operate with his refractory Darashuri clan. This
^ever came to nothing According to a telegram from the Khan of
Borasj un through Darya Begi to the Prime Minister, Soulet swore an oath on
the Quran together with a gendarmerie officer and in the presence of the
Goveinoi of Kazerun to work with the rebels : and that he agreed to send his
son with 1,500 men to Borasjun at once, to be followed by himself when he had
collected his forces. It is more likely that Soulet is still sitting on the fence
and unwilling or unable to make up his mind either way.
^\ -Eh 8 Majesty s Consul and Colony, Shiraz, are still in durance at Ahram
ar ^ Y 1 a: p ua hy Ml communication between the British captives and Bushire
was cut oft by the rebels, presumably on account of the temporary absence
of Wassmuss and Zair Khidhar; but was re-opened on the 24th, on which
a e a carpen er returned from Ahram with letters in which the prisoners said
tney were all well but provisions sent out not reaching them properly. The
caipen er reported that six boxes of money had been "received recently from
i . i. ™sf moveme Ms are somewhat obscure after he left Ahram
tn tli Y 8 ma j’ l ie a pP ear s to have travelled northwards of Shiraz and
to have returned to Borasjun about 28th January well supplied with munitions
1 f l n ma f, C f l0ny consistin g of Colonel Dueat, Ur. Charaieff (Actins
Denarhnpnt ni! r 1 1 . ® lr sseorts, the staff of the Indo-European Telegraph
arv Soeietv ar \ ai I )e J ia l Rank of Persia and members of the Church Mission-
nartv with a r ed . saf !- y at ? a H dar Abb . as m the 10th January. The whole
Maiestv’s Consul "!■ f 16 f Llss ' an Consul and his escort and His
ColLel ft /a r / n< l 1 r a by trans P ort “Bankura” on the 14th.
swS“;roS<r 0 “s:u r w““ 10 ” u ™
law- A**^/*y