File 3516/1914 Pt 17 'German War: Persia; general' [‎59r] (122/370)

99
’Telegram P., No. 128-C., dated (and received) the
Prom—His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General
General in Khorasan {vii Robat),
r ^° Secretary to the Government of India
Department, Delhi.
21st November 1915.
and Agent to the Governor-
in the Foreign and Political
In Russia one Jugendreich-Sehmidt is under trial for espionage. On his
person were found some documents addressed to one Bergmann and signed by
erman General Englehardt. Instructions were given in these papers to send
the answer to Kabul. I have been requested by the Court to enquire for their
information whether Bergmann is known and whether Englehardt is now in
Kabul. 1 think I may say I am not sure about the former, but that latter has
never been to Kabul. [ do not think that he is with Hiedermayer’s party, but
he may have been there in the employ of the Amir H
fn the list of German Agents found by Russians in Kain there is no men
tion of hum I think that directions are due to an anticipation which has been
disappointed by activities of the British and the Russians.
100
Telegram P. } No. 710-C., dated (and received) the 21st November 1915.
From—The Deputy Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment.
My last telegram. It appears from a letter from O’Connor that about 9 am.
November 10th an anonymous self-constituted “National Committee for the
protection of Independence of Persia ” delivered to O’Connor ultimatum giving
him thirty minutes to submit to the “ Provisional arrest of himself and the
British Colony and their despatch to Borasjun to be there detained for exchange
with German and Persian prisoners taken on Persian neutral territory by his
compatriots. As for women they can, if they wish remain in perfect security
at Shiraz or accompany you to Barasjun whence they will be sent under escort
to Bushire immediately.”
Failing acceptance with in thirty minutes houses of British would be
bombarded. Assistant Superintendent Smith would be held liable personally
if the telegraph installation was not handed over intact.
After arrival of British Colony in Borasjun as stated the men were handed
over to Tangistani Khans and in whose charge the prisoners are is not quite
clear. Mrs. Ferguson says Sheikh Husain but I have not received any letter
from him or anyone else.
In his letter O’Connor states that following are Khan’s conditions for the
release of prisoners :—
I. Return of all German and Persian prisoners taken on Persian soil
with their belongings.
II. Repayment of certain sums attached during occupation belonging
to Ghazanfar and Sheikh Husain.
Ill, Evacuation of Bushire, that is, the withdrawal of our troops from
there.
As regards No. II subject was referred to in my telegram No. 482-C.,
Ghazanfar’s money is intact here; about one quarter of Sheikh Husain’s money
was used to reimburse out-of-pocket loss caused to British subjects by raids
which his son led. The balance is here still. As it does not appear in the
ultimatum this condition has been apparently interpolated by the Khans.
I presume that these terms will be quite unacceptable. Mrs. Furguson
states, that to intensify the force of ultimatum Husain sent a message by her
demanding a reply by Wednesday, November 24th, or “ he would declare war on