File 299/1918 Pt 3 'Persia: situation in the South; aeroplanes at Bushire; post-war garrisons in the Persian Gulf; question of withdrawal of British troops; War Minister's visit to the South, 1922' [‎301r] (606/746)

3
* The Admiralty are on principle
opposed to the employment on shore
(except as a temporary measure) of crews
whose duty is to fight at sea. The naval de
tachment returned after considerable delay.
a Barclay’s Despatch No. 687, 24th
August 1909. (P.278.)
•
SirGr. Barclay’s Despatch No. 220, 17th
December 1909.
(P. 4.)
Pol. 2931/10.
Telegram to Viceroy, 7th August 1909.
(P. 263.)
Pol. 3794/09.
Telegram
1910.
to Viceroy, 10th
(P. 25.)
Pol. 2806/10.
January
tenant with five Royal Marines,-' had further to be *
despatched from Bushire to the relief of Shiraz,
while much anxiety was caused in the month of
August by the situation in the neighbourhood of
Kerman, where Mr. James, of the Indo-European
1 elegraph Department, and Mr. V\ right, of the
Imperial Bank, had been cut oft by the tribal
fighting, the incident well illustrating the dilficulty
or impossibility of sending timely relief in such a
case. On the 24th November an attack was made
on the Russian Consul-General, M. Passek, when
two stages on his way from Shiraz to Bushire,
resulting in the death of a Russian Cossack, and
the wounding of three of the escort.
I he Government of India were twice warned
about this time to be prepared to despatch troops
if called upon to do so.
Schemes for the provision of road-
guards :—
(1.) Mr. Grahame’s ; (2.) Mr. Bill’s.
Despatch of Mr. Grahame, No. 100,
22nd December 1906.
(P. 357.)
Pol. 2071/07.
Sir G. Barclay's Despatch No. 178,
22nd September 1909.
(P. 8 .)
Pol 4099/09.
Sir G. Barclay’s views as to road-
guards.
Sir G. Barclay's Despatch No. 162.
24th August 1909.
(P. 355.)
Pol. 4011/09.
5. To cope with the situation exemplified by
these incidents His Majesty’s Government had in
the meantime been considering, in default of action
by the Persian Government, proposals for pro
viding road-guards on the southern routes, particu
larly on that from Bushire. A scheme that had
been put forward in 1906 by Mr. Grahame, the
Consul at Shiraz, had contemplated the regular
payment of the Persian guards who already existed,
at least in name, on the Bushire-Shiraz road (178
miles), and their supervision by three detachments,
to be posted along the road, each consisting of eight
Indian sowars under a non-commissioned officer.
Later, in 1909, a scheme was prepared, in co
operation with Mr. J. C. Smith, of the Indo-European
Telegraph Department, by Mr. J. 11. Bill, Indian
Civil Service, Acting Consul at Shiraz, in which,
while emphasising the view that direct employment
of British troops would be preferable, he proposed
that 230 telegraph gholams, well armed and well
mounted, should be engaged under three European
inspectors, and that their duties should be—
(1) Constant patrolling of the line and high
road in groups of two or four according to
circumstances.
(2) Escorting caravans under the inspector s
orders in case of anticipated robbery.
(3) Collection of information relative to intended
raids.
The net annual cost to the Persian Government
was estimated at 7,0621., and the guarding of the
entire road from Bushire to Ispahan was contem
plated (490 miles).
6. On receiving Mr. Bill's scheme in a pre
liminary iorm, and before consulting Major Cox,
Sir G. Barclay, His Majesty's Minister at Tehran,
expressed some doubt concerning it. He was
disposed to think that,’ “ failing the organisation
“ of a force of road-guards under British officers,
“ which would certainly be the most effective
“ plan, the best—as it would certainly be the most
“expeditious remedy for the present situation,
“ would be to interest the tribes in the main-
“ tenance of order. Subsidies to the tribal chiefs