File 3516/1914 Pt 5 'German War: Persia; situation in Arabistan 1915' [‎156r] (320/404)

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CONFIDENTIAL.
Sir W. Townley to Sir Edward Grey.—{Received February 15, 6‘30 p.m.)
(No. 67.)
I YESTERDAY
Tehran, February 15, 1915.
{February 15, 5'28 p.m.)
^ communicated to Minister for Foreign Affairs substance of
Sir P. Cox’s telegram of 13th February respecting the situation at Ahwaz and necessity
of instructing the Bakhtiari Khans to send sowars to protect pipe-line above Wais, and
to Ahwaz to show that they are co-operating with Sheikh of Mohammerah to repel
incursion of rebel Persian and Turkish Arabs.
I
^ at the same time told Minister that I had every reason to believe that Vali of
Pusht-i-kuh had made an arrangement with Turks diametrically opposed to the spirit
of the declaration of neutrality made by Persia. I also took occasion to inform His
Highness that it had come to my knowledge that Herr Schoenmann, so-called German
consul at Sultanabad, now at Kasr-i-Shirin, had been endeavouring, in company with
two Turkish officers, to get the Sinjabis to promise Turks a free passage through their
territory. I impressed on Minister that such action on Schoenmann’s part makes it
impossible for Persian Government to accept such a man as German consult Sultanabad.
Minister expressed concurrence with my views, and added that appointment of this
individual had not yet been put forward by German Legation, but that Persian
Government is much perturbed at rumoured intention of German Government to send
consuls to various places, amongst them Shiraz. _ .
His Highness said he had no knowledge of Vali’s defection, but would make enquiries.
I reminded him that I had brought rumour to his notice some time ago, when he had
made same answer. .' . .
Respecting Bakhtiari [? he said] that he must submit matter to Prime Minister,
but that instructions had already been issued to Khan to move to protect oilfields and
to assist generally to maintain order. _ . . . T
I remarked that these vague instructions were clearly insufficient to-day, and 1
pointed out that good faith of Persian Government would surely come under suspicion
if Turks and Germans and Persian preachers of Jihad were allowed to do what they
liked, and no steps were taken to make it patent to all that Government is as sincerely
neutral as it orofesses to be. , -i n
His Highness protested vehemently that the Government could not be suspected
of siding with [group omitted : ? Turks], and that energetic measures have been taken
to stop public demonstrations and prevent preaching of Holy ai.
This is true in Tehran and partially in other places.
(Addressed to Foreign Office and Bushire.)
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19 FEB 1915