'Situation in Persia, Vol. I'

Content

This item contains material relating to a review of conditions in Persia [Iran], following the revelation of Turkish plans to invade Persia in order to reach Afghanistan, which would in turn have threatened the British Empire in India. It includes:

• The policies to secure the cooperation of the Persian Government, as well as Isma’il Khan Qashqa’i Sawlat al-Dawlah, Ibrahim Khan Qavam al-Mulk Shirazi, and ‘Abd al-Husayn Mirza Farmanfarma
• The proposals to secure the recognition of the South Persia Rifles by the Persian Government
• The receipt and dissemination of intelligence about Persia relayed to Britain and India
• The maintenance of communications with the Caucasus through the Kermanshah-Enzeli [Anzali] Road
• The capture of Prince Sulayman Mirza Iskandari of the Firqah-yi Democrat [Democratic Party]
• The prevention of Ottoman and German intelligence operatives from crossing into western Persia
• The resignation of the Commander of the Persian Cossack Brigade, Colonel Georgii Josifovich Klerzhe
• A message from Mirza Kuchak Khan's Jangali Movement that the passage of British officers led by General Lionel Dunsterville through Persia to Tiflis [Tblisi] would be 'contrary to the independence of Persia, [and] they will consider themselves justified in taking any measures to frustrate it'
• The protection of the Kermanshah-Hamadan and Shiraz-Isfahan roads and the British Legation in Tehran
• The circulation of anti-British Jangali telegrams condemning the arrest of Sulayman Mirza Iskandari
• The threat of a combined force of Jangalis and Bolsheviks reportedly marching on Kasvin [Qazvin]
• The provision of support to General Dunsterville through seizing the Qasr-i Shirin-Kermanshah Road
• The discussion of 'sweep operations' between Mirza Kuchak Khan and the Anzali Bolshevik Committee
• The consultations between Commander-in-Chief, India and the head of the South Persia Rifles, Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes
• The plans for controlling the road extending from the Ottoman frontier to Northeast Persia
• The zone of operations allocated to the Commander-in-Chief of British forces in Mesopotamia, General William Raine Marshall, and his relations with the British Minister at Tehran, Charles Marling
• The position and action to be taken by General Dunsterville after General Marshall's operations
• And the proposal of Sykes (relayed by Commander-in-Chief, India General Charles Carmichael Monro) for Indian troops to advance to Isfahan, where they were to form an additional brigade of the South Persia Rifles.

Also included are the following:

• 'A Sketch Map of Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. '', showing the Khanikin [Khanaqin]-Hamadan Road
• 'A Skeleton Map of Persia', showing the three Chains for the Receipt and Dissemination of Intelligence about Persia
• 'A Skeleton Map of Persia', showing three Possible Routes for the Advance of Turkish Forces through Persia to Afghanistan.

Extent and format

1 item (174 folios)

It is part of

Correspondence, Telegrams and Notes on Persia, 1917-1919: Situation in Persia

893 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/5/803

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/MIL/5/803, ff 1-174

History of this record

Date(s)

20 Sep 1917-19 Mar 1918 (CE, Gregorian)

People & organisations

Vsevolod Staroselsky

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Cite this record in your research

'Situation in Persia, Vol. I', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/803, ff 1-174, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100111386953.0x000003> [accessed 3 January 2025]

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