Skip to item: of 531
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [‎43r] (90/531)

The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in 18 Nov 1915-4 Sep 1916. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

130
Telegram R., No. 91, dated the 26th (received 27th) June 1916.
From—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran,
• # *
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
I can see no considerations urged in your telegram No. (133S ?)
■which had not occurred to me and therefore probably also to Foreign Office
and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
I see no analogy with case of British ladies at Baghdad and if there is
any I fail to see its application.
As to your numbered points :—
1. You take it for granted Khans will escape punishment.
2. Surely not with some 20 Germans and Austrians in prison at Shiraz.
3. Again you take their immunity for granted.
4. They will not have much success with Persian Government, but
they may do a little in way of exactions for time.
5. Not more so than by our persistent inaction.
6. I doubt it. Khans are making nothing out of their capture. I
have also more faith than you in F(arman) F(arma) taking
action against them.
7. I concur entirely.
8. We have got to bear consequences of our previous inaction even if
it affects our police scheme.
9. Possibly for a time.
10. See 5 and 8.
I think you are overlooking the circumstances attending the whole of the
Pars question and are forgetting that movement against us was engineered by
foreign agents who spent lavishly and was backed by gendarmerie. Such a
8tate°of things is not likely to recur, and I am not apprehensive without such
instigation and support Khans will find courage to defy us in future.. If they
do, I presume Government of India will welcome opportunity of giving them
lesson.
In the circumstances you should open negotiations at once.
Addressed to Busbire; repeated to India and Basrah.
135
Telegram P., No. 323 S., dated the 27th June 1916.
p rom The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran (repeated to Bushire and Basrah).
Pending submission to His Majesty’s Government of their further views,
Government of India beg that action may be stayed m regard to negotiations
with hostile Khans.
This is with reference to your telegram of 26th instant, No. 91.
140
Telegram P., No. 328 S,, dated the 2 Sth June 1916.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To—His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran (repeated to Sir P. Cox, Basrah,
Major Trevor, Bushire).
Shiraz prisoners. Trevor’s telegram 1338 of 25th and Cox’s telegram
3077 of 27th have been repeated by us to Secretary of State.
This is with reference to my telegran 323 S. of 27th Juae.

About this item

Content

The file contains papers relating to the arrest at Shiraz by the Persian gendarmerie on 10 November 1915 of HM Consul at Shiraz (Major William Frederick Travers O’Connor), the Manager and other employees of the Imperial Bank of Persia at Shiraz, the Superintendent of the Shiraz section and other employees of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, and other British subjects.

The papers also concern: the arrested British men being deported to Borazjun [Borazjan, also spelled Borasgun in the volume] with their wives and families, from where the female members of the group were sent to Bushire, and most of the men were moved to the neighbourhood of Ahram, where they were held prisoners of the Tangistani Khans and the German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss; negotiations for the release of the prisoners, including the possibility of the release of captured German or Austrian or Tangistani prisoners in exchange for the release of the British prisoners; the release of all the Ahram prisoners except Major O’Connor on 10 August 1916, and the subsequent release of Major O’Connor on 20 August 1916.

The main correspondents include: the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Foreign Office; HM Minister, Tehran (Sir Charles Murray Marling); the 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the Deputy 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Arthur Prescott Trevor); the Government of India Foreign and Political Department; Jess Christmas (whose husband, an official of the Indo European Telegraph Department, was one of the British subjects being held captive); and Livingstone Zeytoon and Company, Manchester.

The papers consist of correspondence and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Political and Secret Department minute papers.

The file includes three documents in French: a note verbale from the French Ambassador to London, Paul Cambon, 6 February 1916; a telegram from Aristide Briand, Prime Minister of France, to Cambon, 4 February 1916; and a note from the German Minister in Athens to the Greek Government, February 1916.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (260 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 334 (Pt 1 German War - Persia, and Pt 2 Persia) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/582-583. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 262; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [‎43r] (90/531), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/582, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069884882.0x00005b> [accessed 3 April 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100069884882.0x00005b">File 334/1916 Pt 1 ‘German War – Persia. Shiraz Prisoners – Major O’Connor’ [&lrm;43r] (90/531)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100069884882.0x00005b">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0001dd/IOR_L_PS_10_582_0090.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0001dd/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image