File 3443/1914 Pt 3 'German War: Afghanistan and Persia; German agents; British troops in East Persia' [‎13r] (34/345)

98
Telegram P., No. 232 C.* dated the 23rd (received 24th) April 1916.
From —His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Sistan and Kain,
To—The Secretary to the Grovernment of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated Baluchistan).
My telegram of the 22nd April, No. 227 C. On seeing my telegram,
April 20th evening, James, it appears, called Wikeley to the telephone and
obtained permission to proceed next morning to Sipeh. He found no Baluchis
there. Proposal to disarm levies has evidently been abandoned by Wikeley
who sent me following on April 21st :— Begins* 378 X. Presence of levies at
Dehaneh Bag hi is not considered necessary for military purposes as regular
troops at Dehaneh have been considerably increased. These levies mi^ht, I
recommend, be placed elsewhere. On Labi-Baring-Bandan line, for instance,
they will be better employed. Ends. Claridge, who is under orders to take
command at Dehaneh, is of the same opinion as Wikeley evidently. Wikeley
has now been asked by me how in view of the possibility of the Germans in
disguise approaching from east or west all tracks and wells within Dehaneh
area can be watched without levies.
I got a private telegram from Heron yesterday saying that correctness
of my views was accepted by him.
Of events of April 13th, he says he has vivid recollection.
\ 99
Telegram P., No. 94 S., dated the 23rd April 1916.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To—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. , Bushire (repeated to
Minister, Cox and Sykes).
\
Please refer to your telegram, dated 13th April, 144—868. Secretary of
State considers Kawam should be given all possible backing in guns as
well as money. What are your re^mmendations regarding Kawam’s request
for two mountain guns ?
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i,
Telegram P., No. 96 S., dated the 23rd April 1916.
% *
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To— Lieutenant-Colonfl Sir Percy Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Bunder Abbas
(repeated to Minister, Tehran, Sir £. Cox, Basrah, Major Trevor Bushire
Consul, Sistan, and Consul-General, Meshed). * *
Proposals in your telegram, No. 50 C.,, dSted 19th April, are approved,
but you must bear in mind importance of as early a start as possible. You can
perhaps arrange to send ns daily telegraphic reports bv runners, repeating
to Chief of General Staff, Simla, as soon as you start. " °
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103
Telegram P., No. 10 Xc., dated (and received) the 24th April 1916.
From—The Hon’ble the Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in
baluchistan,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla (repeated Sistan).
Please see telegram 39 P., dated the 23rd April, from Prideaux. I am
strongly opposed to suggestion that experienced British officers and reliable men
should be sent away in view of his telegrams about state of local levies.
We could not support them at Kerman. Large party of Germans at Rigan
subsequent to German defeat in Kerman are reported by Dew.