File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎186v] (377/566)

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I did not believe the Turks were capable of such a breach of faith, but, as a precaution
I would send a cavass with him when he went to the acting vali, and I gave him ’
letter, copy inclosed, to hand to the latter. It was afterwards discovered that the
information was merely given in order to frighten Haji Reis away and so break up the
negotiation, and that there was no foundation for it. Haji Reis declined to give me
the name of his informant, but as he had been calling on Seyyid Talib that mornin
who arrived by the Russian steamer “ Tigre” on the 8th May, I surmise the information^
must have come from him.
Haji Reis was very anxious I should say something specific to the Turks about the
sheikh’s assurances from the British Government. I told him I saw no advantage in
using such an argument, at all events at present, and I said I gave the acting vali
clearly to understand in my interview with him on the 5th May that His Maiesty’s
Government attached great importance to a settlement locally, and feared complications
if it were not effected, as we had considerable interests of a commercial nature in
Arabistan. I added the Turks were quite intelligent enough to perceive that the
sheikh himself was one of those interests, and that we were protecting him ipso facto
by our intervention at the present juncture. It seemed a pity, I said, to use a big nail
which might split the plank, when a tin-tack would do the work. Haji Reis also
consulted us as to what action the Persians should take in regard to the two official
communications addressed by the vali to the Persian consul-general at Bussorah on the
26th Aprd, making direct accusations against the sheikh and covertly threatening to
attack Mohammerah. I replied that my advice was to pigeonhole the letters and send
no answer at all. I feared any reply might lead to an acrimonious correspondence and
upset our work of reconciliation. Haji Reis promised me to advise the Persian consul-
general accordingly, and I understand a mere formal acknowledgment will be sent.
The acting vali informed Haji Reis on the 9th May that the vali agreed to his
proposal about Mohammed Chenan, whom the sheikh will remove from Turkish
territory, appointing another agent in his place at Zein ; that the questions between
them were now settled in a friendly way, and there was nothing more. The letter
addressed to me by the acting vali on the 8th May, in reply to mine, contained
assurances to that effect. A copy of the acting vali’s letter is enclosed.
Haji Reis replied, if all was now over, he would like him to write to the sheikh to
say so, and that their disagreement had been ended in an amicable manner between
himself and the acting vali. The acting vali replied that the sheikh should write first,
-tlaji Reis then produced from his bag^ a letter written and sealed by the sheikh
stating that he had sent Haji Reis as his plenipotentiary to settle matters, and handed
it to the acting vali, adding that his instructions were to deliver the letter only if
matters were settled in a satisfactory and friendly manner. The acting vali then
agreed to give him his letter if he called later on in the afternoon. On Haii Reis’s
calling m the evening of the same day, the acting vali told him there was another
qiies ion pen mg w uch must be settled before he wrote. It appears that shortly after
the Zein incident on the 25th April a certain Ishak, an Arab, presented a petition to
the vali to the effect that Haji Mustafa, Mirza Hamza’s head moonshee and an
oman su jec , iad threatened to kill him in the presence of witnesses. A quarrel
ad occurred between them previously and Mustafa threatened Ishak, who now went
. ear rr 18 V 6 ’, was a ^ ia j c ^ mention the matter before, fearing the wrath of
l ^• nZa mi U ’ a .^' ei ^ e j n affair, he plucked up courage and denounced Mustafa
ha w V + \ u- 6 ac ^ ia S ^ a -^ 1 Sa ^ Mustafa had gone to Mohammerah and must be sent
back to take his trial m the usual way. Haji Reis agreed to attend the serai on the
Qn w 6 P u ^ c P rosecu tor time to make out his papers, and said he
ixdi ® surrender of Mustafa, who was a violent and bad-tongued man,
fU f} S 161 ' n+ V0U r P r ^ ec ^ a g a i ns t the action of the judicial authorities.
pndpa \ n ^ + H ^i ? if 16 Ma y certain ill-disposed persons in Bussorah again
ArabJnf ^ ^ e f 0tl n tl0ns b 7 informin g the Turkish authorities that the
midm" qa - mzal had collected in force and intended to attack Bussorah at
until ^ ^ weie ordered out and remained under arms, patrolling the town
wh a tPv^T g ;i and the auth 1 0 ^ ltles were on the alert aU night. There was no foundation
fl^intf Md the ^i 01 ^ ^ 1 * rust the ln ? ident ma y serve to alky Turkish suspicions
hitherto t° ia ! nmeia aild lead the Turkish authorities to attach more credence than
actimr vflli°«o e j jSsurances of tlie sheikh’s representatives. Haji Reis warned the
marlrf’tnr • , me a & 0 ^^ a ^ attempts to alarm the population would no doubt be
fish in R•oubled S waters ^SOrlS, W ^ 0 V ^ eWeC ^ ^ be reconc iliation with disfavour and sought to
10th May Haji Reis attended the Serai, and official communications were
: