File 3516/1914 Pt 7 'German War: Persia' [‎95r] (194/519)

not been a success. The present would appear to be a favourable opportunity to get rid
of them on this portion of the road, if not right up to Shiraz.
If the Ears regiment were recalled to Tehran, I should think that it would lose
many men by desertion, &c., on the way, and very possibly dissolve before reaching
Tehran. Considering the open hostility of the officers from the commandant downwards
’’'Stnd the men, this would appear to me a result devoutly to be desired. Further, should
the regiment disperse/ this would remove a trained body of men, who might give
considerable trouble in the south in the event of Persia joining in the war.
When the gendarmerie first came south, the German consul under instructions
from his legation at once began to get round the Swedish officers (vide Sir P. Cox’s
telegtam No. 443, of November 1913). For some time past it has been evident that
the Germans have been completely successful and have absolutely “ nobbled ” the
gendarmerie. In these circumstances during the present war it seems to me hardly
to be supposed that the corps will behave in a genuinely neutral manner towards us,
whatever assurances the commandant and other officers give us. On the other hand
were the gendarmerie in the south to be removed or to melt away, it might he possible
when the war is over to get Russia and the Persian Government to agree to a
gendarmerie with British officers for the south. The immediate result of the
disappearance of the gendarmerie would be very probably robbers and raiders on the
roads, but with the help of Soulet and Kawam and by subsidising the kans this
ouo-ht to be kept within the limits and at a great deal less expenditure than would be
incurred in bolstering up the gendarmerie.
In any case what with the German activities and intrigues ot pro-links, &c., it
looks as if Persia is in for a period of anarchy till the end of the war, gendarmerie
or no gendarmerie. , . , . 1 x . .
In the circumstances I venture to submit that m my humble opinion to lend any
more money for the gendarmerie would merely be throwing good money after bad.
(Addressed Tehran, repeated Shirez, Bassra, and foreign, by post to-day.)
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Consul O'Connor to Mr. Marling.
t^ 0 ,* • >. Shiraz, June 8, 1915.
6 ^LEASE refer to Bushire telegram No. 215, Confidential.
Your Excellency can, perhaps, judge by now whether there is any likehhood of
Persia deliberately throwing in her lot with Germany and Turkeyr not. If su
eventuality seems at all likely, I venture to express do
views that the sooner the gendarmerie disappears the better, and t
nofhino- further to support them. If, however, Persian participation m the war
improbable or even uncertain, I venture to dissent strongly from Point of vmw
which appears to me to take into account rather the interests of Bushire than those
Pars and so South Persia a s which j fully rea li se and admit it cannot
In spite of th ^ n ^“ ri a e n hav e preserved South Persia from anarchy during
the lZ two years and have kept the road^penjor commerce, posts, aud travellers.
Such a situation is, I venture to think, m _ 3 which might involve us in
a state of chaos which m ykt compe us^o^mterv^ ^ ^ dayg I have been bringing
serious embarassments of many kin ^ p 0 u Sse tte with regard to the questjon of
very strong pressure to bear on Captai _ ^ • to "correct the faults of the
neutrality, &c. He is beyond ques ion sincere y qhis fact combined
££3." awx., ...a p— sy-f-ssss:
Btf&asSS! SAZiSA'-* r—» - —*
for intervention here. , p^„ T . nmpn t do no t approve further
adv a r ^LTl“be y u:fof th S e geXmerie, I shall try to formulate alternative
P rOP< (Addressed Tehran, repeated Basra and Bushire.)