'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎10r] (24/310)

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Gough’s absence, left on the 17th January
for Luristan with the Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma to watch
the operations of the expedition which the
Persian Government lias sent to punish the
tribe concerned in the attack on Colonel
Douglas and Lieutenant Lorimer (vide
Memorandum for January, paragraph 15).
17. On the 21st February, Sir Arthur
Hardinge telegraphed that Lieutenant Williams
had pointed out that, unless he goes with the
Governor-General of Kermaushah beyond the
base, he will have no means of controlling the
latter’s statements as to his proceedings, and
the Prince may report that he has killed the
perpetrators of the outrage without really
having done anything. The Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). Firma
has asked for three months’ grace in order to
collect provisions before attacking Direkwand,
and the British Minister states that the
condition of his force necessitates acquiescence
in this delay. At the same time he has informed
the Persian Government that we can take no
responsibility for the plan of operations; they
and the Prince between them must carry
the matter through in such a manner as they
deem most effective, but that we cannot con
sent to indefinite postponements, and we must /
insist on the exemplary punishment of the
guilty tribe within the three months. s
The whole business is being conducted on
the usual methods of Tehran,—the main object
of the Persian Government is to discredit
the Prince, the pacification of the disturbed
district being merely secondary.
18. Arabistan .—In connection with
the Karun irrigation scheme (vide Memo
randum for January 1905, paragraph 17),
Major Cox telegraphed, on the 31st January,
that the Dutch engineer had arrived at Moham-
merah from Ahwaz, in order to interview the
Sheikh, on the subject of the proposed dam at
Ahwaz. The Sheikh refused to commit him
self until he had first obtained the views of the
British Government, and asked Major Cox to
enquire and inform him by telegram whether
the scheme is seriously contemplated, whether
the British Government approve of it, and
whether the British Government advise him to
come to an agreement with the Persian Govern
ment and to co-operate in the scheme in return
for an adequate quid pro quo. The Dutch
engineer states that he has received instructions
to submit a complete scheme, and that the
Minister of customs will provide £2,000,000.
The scheme is as follows :—by means of a dam
the water will be accumulated sufficiently t
irrigate 14i0 square miles of land around
Ahwaz. After 20 years have elapsed, the scope
of the scheme will be extended out of the
profits realised. The Persian Government will
import agricultural machinery, and will culti
vate the land themselves, employing local