File 537/1921 Part 1 'Persia: Oil - Defence of A.P. Oil Co's fields etc' [‎97r] (189/324)

One battalion.
(a) At Ahwaz
" Mullah Sanni )
)
t.
Kut Abdullah ) One battalion.
Dorquaira )
Ab adan Two C ompanie s.
'O
(b) ■ Two sections of amoured cars.
(c) Aircraft. (Two Plights.)
This 1UrCe could protect the pumping station and plant
and the refineries at Abadan and held the tactical centre at
Ahwaz. It could not guarantee the security of the Pine Line
whiCii extenas over a distance of some 150 miles. The damage
however which could be effected to the Pipe Line itself is
inconsiderable £tnci com.cl "bo Scisily i* 6 p 3 ,ii* 8 d
Tne total garrison thus required for the protection of the
Company's area consists of
Infan wry * 44 - Battalions.
Armoured, oar^ .2 Sections•
Aircraft Plights!
In view or the fact that the garrison of Iraq could not
safely be depleted, by the Battalions above mentioned,the con-f
elusion arises that the responsibility for the protection of
the Oilfields and the Pipe Line areas now assumes an Imperial
rather than a local aspect.
I have dealt only with the safeguarding of the Company's
interests under what I consider are the conditions that may
obtain in the near future as the outcome of the present policy
of the Persian War Minister- This policy would appear to have
for its object the subjugation of the whole of South Persia
to “che Central Government.
Its successful attainment however cannot but have far
#
reaching consequences from a British Imperial stand-point.
Should war then break out between Great Britain and a
foreign power which could by any means influence or determine
the-policy of Persia,as a neutral.towards ourselves,the sources
01 our oil fuel might be closed to us.
Sir Arnold T.Wilson,K.C.I.E.,C.M.G.,C.S.I.,D.S.O.,has
read this report and is in agreement with it.
I have etc.,
Sd.J.M.Salmond,
Air Marshal^,
Air Officer Commanding British
forces in Iraq.