File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎164r] (332/566)

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[23619]
[July 6.]
Section 2.
No. 1.
*
Sir Edward Grey to Mr. Marling.
(No. 108.) ,
Sir, Foreign Office, July 6 , 1910.
I HAVE received Sir G. Barclay’s despatch No. 207 of the 9th November last,
relative to tlie further assurances which the Sheikh of Mohammerah desires to receive
from His Majesty’s Government, and I transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence
which has since passed between this department and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. on the subject.*
The wishes of the sheikh in this matter may be summarised as follows :—
1 . He is anxious that the assurance already given to him and subsequently
extended to his heirs and successors may be modified so as to apply to his male
descendants.
2 . He desires that the assurances given should be made to hold good for 100
years.
3 . He desires an assurance of protection for his private property in Persia.
4 . He desires an assurance of protection against molestation by foreign Powers
and against any encroachment by such a Power on his jurisdiction, recognised rights or
property in Persia.
5 . He hopes that, if circumstances compel His Majesty’s Government to assume
control of the customs of the southern ports of Persia, including those of Mohammerah
and Ahwaz, he will be left in immediate control of these two ports as at present. ^ ^
6 . He hopes that, if a general catastrophe in Persia compels His Majesty’s
Government to intervene in the southern part of that country, be and his tiibesmen
may be maintained in their present position or, if that is impossible, that he may
retain his personal revenue and be granted an asylum in India or elsewhere. ^
7 . He wishes the assurances given him to be embodied in a form which he can
show to his tribesmen, to strengthen both their support of himself and their faith in
the friendly policy of His Majesty’s Government.
As regards ( 1 ), His Majesty’s Government see no objection to compliance with the
sheikh’s wish, on condition that the assurances given shall only hold good so long as
his male descendants not only fulfil their obligations to His Majesty s an e ersian
Governments but reruain acceptable to their tribesmen. . , ,,
As regards ( 2 ) His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that this concession should
not be made, at any rate for the present. n . • , ,•
As regards ( 3 ) His Majesty’s Government see no objection^ to granting an
assurance of the kind desired, subject to the condition laid down m t e succee
Pa^ As P reeards (4) His Majesty’s Government are willing to comply with the sheikh’s
wish on condition that the assurance is accompanied by a verbal explanation, to be
recorded in writing, that they cannot bind themselves to forcible intervention on is
As regards ( 5 ) His Majesty’s Government consider it undesirable to give such an
assurance and prefer to confine themselves to general expressions o goo wi w ic
should be conveyed to the sheikh when the assurances aie gi\en im.
As regards ( 6 ), the sheikh should be informed that the contingency foreseen is one
which His Majesty’s Government cannot contemplate, and should be referred to the
text of the Anglo-Russian arrangement concerning Persia, whereby the two Powers
have bound themselves to respect the independence and integrity of that country, and
to the communication already made to him on the 1st December, 1908, in which this
point is expressly dealt with. , . , v .,i ,,
As regards ( 7 ), His Majesty’s Government see no objection to compliance with the
sheikh’s wishes. ... ^ ^ .1 • 4.1
As the considerations which have led to these conclusions are fully set forth in the
enclosed correspondence, it is unnecessary to recapitulate them m this despatch.
* To India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , January 31; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , February 16; to ditto,'March 31; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , April 13;
to ditto, June 18 ; India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , June 30, 1910.
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