File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎186r] (376/1044)

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Confidential Summary JS/ews of His 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 Gidf for the month of January 1916.
PEESIA.
Mot.
Bushire.
1. Early in the month Darya Begi took advantage of the despatch of
an emissary from the Deputy Resident to the friendly Khans of Dashti to
request the latter to send 40 Dashti riflemen to Bushire as an increase of his
local force was imperative, especially at Halileh, At the same time this step
may he useful in committing the friendly Dashti Khans to hostility against
the confederates.
2. Five thousand Tumans were needed at the beginning of the month for
payment of the local administration and irregular forces and the coffers of the
Finance Department were empty. Appeals were made to Tehran in vain. In
order to prevent the Halileh guards deserting, a small temporary loan was made
by the 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 fact, for several months past the administration has only
been held together by advances and loans from the 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. , which is daily
besieged by the heads of the various departments clamouring for the salaries
of their men. There is even some danger of the Governor abandoning his post
if he does not receive his pay regularly, as this seems to be the sole inducement
for him to remain in Bushire under existing conditions. From time to time
he sends in his resignation by telegram.
3. His Excellency has received most insulting letters this month from Shaikh
Hussain and Zair Khidhar in which they told him he was no better than the
British, offered to send some men to escort him, if he would take a last offer
and flee by night, and alluded to the telegrams of the “ traitor Minister, ” i.e.,
Farman Farma. They expressed their unalterable hostility to the British
whom they consider “ more contemptible than dogs. ” Darya Begi telegraphed
to the Prime Minister suggesting the issue of telegraphic decrees of
outlawry against these two chiefs, and the bestowal of their districts on
other friendly Khans, e.g., Angali and the dispossessed Khans of Tangistan.
4. The siege of Bushire still languishes, to a great extent owing to the
heavy rains which have made Bushire an island and the approach to it a swamp.
On the 5th January a body of about 100 enemy sowars and tufangchis crossed
the Mashileh with the intention of lying up in the Kuzi Nullah and catching
our cavalry unawares when patrolling in the early morning. The cavalry
however had gone in another direction that morning so the raiding party went
back again. The enemy sowars were sighted by our patrols but too late to
catch them. A small attack was made on our outposts on the evening of the
21st, but was easily beaten off.
5. Arrivals from Shiraz reported that on the 30th December 1915, Qawam-
ul-Mulk, Acting Governor-General of Fars, had been compelled to evacuate
Shiraz with his tribal force and that his house and property had been plundered
by the Gendarmerie. Qawam himself complained subsequently that he had
lost 5,000,000 Tumans worth of stuff. One Nasir-ul-Mulk, husband of an
aunt of Qawam and the companion of Wassmuss in his journey from Baghdad
to Shush tar, was set up by the Gendarmes and “ Democrats ” as Governor
in the place of Qawam.
On January 7th, Nazim-ul-Mulk, son-in-law of Qawam-ul-Mulk, arrived
at Bandar Abbas with a letter from the Qawam for the 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. asking for
money, machine guns, rifles and explosives to enable him to defeat the
Gendarmerie and retake Shiraz. His request for assistance has been dealt
with by telegram. It has since transpired that Qawam stoutly resisted
demands made by the Gendarmes previous to the fighting, also that the Shiraz^
population hate and curse Democrats and Gendarmes alike for indiscrimin"
pillage, the slaughter of innocent persons, stoppage of trade, and in fact anarciiy
and lawlessness generally.
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ilaeeived on 27 MAR 1916 with
INDIA FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
Letter. n 0 . 10 M
Dated
FEB 1916
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