File 3516/1914 Pt 7 'German War: Persia' [‎117v] (239/519)

48
Government in the south of Persia; hostile Khan Dashti looks to the Governor-
General for both support and encouragement, while Governor and those
friendly to us here do not get any. Matters will not improve, in my opinion,
unless and until such time as Governor-General has been recalled, and as
situation is showing signs of rapidly developing, I respectfully beg to support
the proposal of His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Shiraz, in which he urges
that Persian Government may be pressed to fulfil their promise (s) made to
us—vide British Minister, Tehran’s telegram No. 12o—and recall him at once.
9
Telegram P., No. 48, dated (and received) the 8th May 1915.
From—flis Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Tehran,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political bepart-
^ ^ ' ment, Simla.
Please refer to my telegram, No. 180. I am informed by my Kussian
Colleague that despatch of Bussian troops is a very doubtful matter, as Viceroy
of Caucasus says that he is unable to spare any troops.
The position here is always a precarious one though it is not at once
critical. German agents in Persia, by means of further expenditure, by
playing on Persian prejudices, viz^j hatred of itussia, mistrust of ourselves,
and Isfam sentiments, &e., by circulation of lying reports of Turkish and
German victories, and by exploiting difficulties of Imperial Bank of Persia,
have ensnared public opinion entirely in the capital. In fact they have on
their side the Persian Press and Parliament. They are in possession of arms
and are enlisting recruits.
Same conditions prevail but in different degrees in the towns of Shiraz,
Ispahan, Ramadan, Suitanabad and Kermanshah.
It is evident from all their preparations that there is on hand a concerted
plan to attack us and it is my opinion that attempt will not be long deferred.
Cabinet, though we have impressed on them what the result for Persia will
eventually be, are themselves in a measure impressed by action of Germans
in Persia and they are (two groups undecipherable) afraid to act against very
powerful sentiments of pro-German Party in Tehran. Moreover, except for
police they have no force to rely on and are practically powerless to do any
thing.
My Russian, Prench and Belgian Colleagues are of the same opinion as
myself that only chance (of) saving the situation is by the immediate despatch
of troops to Rnzeli and even this step may at the present time be too late as
Germans, now that they are aware that their cause is lost in Europe, w T iil stop
at nothing. What tue nature of the attack will be I am not able to say.
Germans have so completely mastered the situation here that violent measures
are unnecessary, but in provinces the situation may be different.
Addressed to Foreign Office, sent to Petrograd, Ispahan, Shiraz, Basrah,
Bushire and India.
lit
10
Telegram R., No. 1062 B., dated (and received) the 8th May 1915.
From—The Hon’ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sie Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.,
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 toe Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla.
Urgent. Reference correspondence ending with Bushire telegram,
163 0., 7 th May.
The favourable or unfavourable trend of the situation in hinterland and
success or failure of the schemes of Wassmuss and Governor-General seem