File 537/1921 Part 2 'Persia: Oil - A.P.O. Co's development of new oil-fields; Oil Boring at Dasht-i-Qil; A.P.O. Co's agreement with Kashkuli Khans' [‎231r] (133/254)

thought it necessary to register the Persian original, triplicate copy of uhich
was given to me, that he left it to my discretion, but that it had not been
done by the Company in previous agreements. If Resident Director asrees
and you wish, a copy of the Persian agreement made in my office can be sent
to you for information of Persian Minister, but I do not think it advisable
for them to keep a copy in view of Soulet’s intrigues.
(b) The day following my return from meeting I informed Governor
General of the agreement; he knows Wilson and expressed his great reore*
at not meeting him. His Deputy read the agreement on November 5th durm
an official call. It was injudicious that intention to conclude agreement
should be published in Shiraz before signature owing to Soulet’s spies and
anti-British intrigue. Governor General is too ill-disposed towards Soulet
and too good friend to us to be responsible for the information quoted by you
He informed me that S. had complained direct to Tehran, and of his letter,
also that he had written to the Karguzar. I was asked by His Eoyal Highness
for details to enable him to rejdy to Central Government, and I requested him
to write me officially.
(c) Authors of information were Soulet and Karguzar,, according to a
telegram from Prime Minister to Governor General, and former, although he
knew from my interview facts of agreement and true position, has had no
scruple in his misrepresentations.
(d) Governor General and Governor of Gulf Ports have both complained
to me that since present Prime Minister took office vogue for Ministers has
been to take notice of and act on any wild rumour that unofficial and irrespon
sible persons telegraph without referring to or believiog local Government
consequently giving officials most difficult task. I therefore venture to suggest
that as Governor General is ttoulet’s direct superior Prime Minister and
Foreign Ministers might be taken to task for permitting Soulet to communi
cate with them direct, in order to make mischief, a pack of lies about matters
concerning British interests. While Soulet attacks I am strongly of the
opinion that we should not act solely on the defensive, but let Persian Govern
ment understand that British have had so much trouble with Soulet in past
that if he wants to make difficulties and create friction for Oil Company, taking
advantage of the departure of South Persia Bifles, we shall ask to have Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran.
changed. Complaint might also be made that in past month Qashqais have
robbed two telegraph officials as well as merchandise and he has given no
satisfaction at all.
( 0 ) You will see that agreement with Kashkulis is purely commercial
and differs very little from thos^ with Bakhtiari and others. Only 15 men
under Khan, as far as I know, have employed by Company from tribp residing
in locality, to protect their property and employes which is same principle as
with Bakhtiaris. No private Persian owning a garden outside Shiraz has less
than two or three guards as Persian Minister must be aware. Can they m
that for European lives and much valuable material 15 or 30 are unnecessary
in wild mountain region ? Governor General could not do otherwise an
endorse Kashkuli guards. Of such a thing as a “ force there is no question.
What others could be sent since Government sarbaz are useless. Are Indian
troops desired by Persian Government ? ...
Addressed Tehran, No. 199 ; repeated Mohammerah for Resident Director,
Bushire, by post.
Telegram It., dated (and received) the 14th November 1921.
From—His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires, Tehran,
To— Chick, Shiraz, 147.
(Repeated Bushire, 1S3, and Mohammerah for Director, 24.)
Priority .— Your telegram No. 199.
Rersian Government has right to complain of admittedly
tiations with tribal chiefs being conducted under auspices b
representative. In view of friendly Governor General it should not have been