'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎9v] (25/396)

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PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTRATION REPORT
After he left the Qawam -ul-Mulk was made Acting Governor-General.
He was violently attacked by the Democrats and pro-Germans. His Excellency
and His Majesty's Consul were threatened with, assassination and were unable
to go out. On the 8th September the British Vice-Consul, Ghulam Ali Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. ,
was shot while walking in the street and succumbed to his wounds. On the
23rd October the Consulate Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. and a " ghulam " ( peon A low-ranking infantryman, orderly or assistant (South Asian context). ) were^ shot at and
both wounded, the ghulam subsequently succumbing. It was evident that the
Germans and their adherents were trying to terrorise the people into having
no dealings with the British Consulate.
His Majesty's Consul was endeavouring to procure some ammunition for
Qawam and also to arrange a loan for the administration of Pars; and it was
also agreed that Sowlet-ed-Dowleh should have the Governorship of Dashti and
Dashtistan subject to certain conditions. It was hoped that the combination
of the two principal local magnates, Qawam and Sowlet, who were now on
friendly terms, would be able to reduce Fars to order.
Early in November the relations with the Persian Government became
very strained, and at one time a rupture seemed imminent. It was however
averted by energetic action at Tehran by the British and Hussian Ministers
and the advance of the Russian troops from Kazvin towards Tehran. The
upshot of it was that the German, Austrian and Turkish missions left Tehran
for Ispahan but without the Shah, whom they had hoped to take, and a pro-ally
Cabinet was formed under Earman Earma.
It was hoped that this coup would have a good effect in Ears, but in point
of fact it had a contrary result. The Germans were roused to redoubled energy,
and, with the help Of the Gendarmerie, captured Shiraz on the 10th November.
The plot was apparently known only to the German " Consul " and one or two
other Germans, Angmann, the Swedish Commandant of the Gendarmerie, and
three or four of the Persian officers.
Before sunrise, on the 10th November, having presumably cut the tele
graph to Ispahan, various parties of Gendarmerie quietly occupied the points
of vantage in Shiraz, secured the artillery park and placed guns and machine
guns in commanding situations.
At about 8 am . a deputation of the " National Committee for the
protection of the Independence of Persia" called on His Majesty's Consul and
gave him half an hour to decide whether he would surrender with the British
Colony and be taken to the coast, or not: in the latter event the Consulate
and houses of the British Colony would be bombarded. Major O'Connor
accepted the terms of the ultimatum and was arrested and taken to join the
rest of the Colony many of whom had already been apprehended. The party,
consisting or seven men and four ladies, was hurried out of the place forthwith
and taken down to Borasjun where they arrived on the 18th November. They
received a hostile reception at Kazerun, probably engineered by Nasir-i-Diwan,
the Kalantar, who had frequently evinced anti-British tendencies, but other
wise the journey was uneventful. At Borasjun the party was divided, the men
beins: taken to Ahram, where they were retained as prisoners in charge of Zair
Khidhar, and the ladies came on to Bushire where they arrived on 20th
November.
Major O'Connor and the other men were lodged in one long room and a
small room at Ahram, and the Khan appeared to do what he could to make
them as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. At first the prisoners
were allowed to go out twice a day and bathe in a hot spring near by ; also
they were allowed to receive letters and papers and provisions from Bushire,
At the end of the year, however, they were still unfortunately in detention,
and it seemed likely that regular communication would be cut off because
Wassmuss and the Khans could not get answers to the letters which they had
sent to German and Persian prisoners in India and Basrah.
Meanwhile, at Shiraz, the Qawam, on demanding the reasons of all this
violence, was put off with lies to the effect that Persia had declared war on
England and that orders had come to the Gendarmerie all over Persia to arrest
all British subjects. Owing to Shiraz being isolated telegraphically the Qawam
could not get any instructions, and no letters from Mm to Bushire were