File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎173r] (350/1044)

confidential.
SUMMARY OF NEWS OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S POLITICAL
RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. IN THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 1916.
PERSIA.
Faes.
Little worthy of record has happened during the month. The British prisoners
are still at Ahram, there have been no special disturbances in Southern Persia,
and little information is available about Shiraz.
The attitude of Soulet-ud-Douleh has never been satisfactory, and though the
goulet Minister, Tehran, had at first hoped that
Soulet would take steps to rescue the
prisoners, he is now thoroughly convinced that the Soulet will do nothing.
His Royal Highness Nusrat-us-Sultaneh, the Governor-General-elect of Ears, has
been diverted to Kirman and His Royal Highness Farman Farma appointed
Governor-General of Ears. The date of his arrival at Shiraz is uncertain,
he shows no signs at present of leaving Tehran, and as he does not propose to take
active measures, if any, against the Khans until the autumn, it is unlikely that
he will arrive for some time. His Deputy, Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Muatazed, is on his way to
Shiraz and should reach there shortly.
Meanwhile, affairs at Shiraz must necessarily be in a highly unsatisfactory
condition : with a young and inexperienced
shiraz ' Qawam as Acting Governor-General, and
a jealous Soulet, who is bent on shielding the rebel Khans and insurgents, it is not
surprising to learn that, at the instigation of the Soulet, two or three of the most
objectionable prisoners have been released, and also a German doctor. Of the
rebels whose arrest was reported in last diary two, Imam Quli Khan and Hassan
Khan, have been executed. Further arrests, including the editors of the pestilent
papers “ Hayat,” Tazianeh,” “ Intiqam ” (editor of latter was the Indian
agitator Sufi. Amba Pershad) have been made, but it is feared that, in the absence
of any strong Government official, many, if not all of these, will be released and
elude punishment altogether.
Negotiations for the release of the prisoners have only resulted in a further
exchange of proposed conditions. At the
Shiraz prisoners. beginning of the month it was stated bv
Lieutenant-Colonel O’Connor that the only condition the Khans required
was the release of all Tangistani prisoners; and Zair Khidhar was informed
that there would be no demonstration on our part for four days, during
which time he could send the British prisoners to Bushire, while the Tangistani
prisoners would be sent as soon as they could be brought back from India
Zair Khidhar did not reply to this, but subsequently 0 Connor wrote that
the Khans’ final conditions were release of prisoners, and return oi money
confiscated during the occupation, and of contraband tea belonging to Zair
Khidhar which had been seized. The Minister, Tehran, m view of the inability
of the Government of India to undertake a punitive expedition, asked permission o
negotiate on these lines; but as Government would not approve of any conditions
which included a pardon for past offences, negotiations may he said to have been
dropped • for although this condition is not mentioned m rpcent proposals, it may
be taken’for granted that it is the essential condition from the Khans point of
view.
His Excellency Darya Begi returned to Bvushire after investigating the
His excellency naiy s ^ outrage and ln terviewmg Mir
Bushire - Barkat. The Persian Government have
appointed Barman Farma not only Governor-General of f’ ^ a ,!f°
PfV p ..if Ports for what purpose it is not clear, but, on the 26th May, barm
Farma^telegraphed to the" D^rya Begi that he confirmed the latter in h>»
Governorship of the Gulf Ports.