'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎410r] (830/1386)

o
o
wliilo eliie£ tribe of tlie Tigris \ alk>v and about a moiety of the population of Basrah is Shiah.
trom any-question of Jehad, we do not think that the Mohammedan community in India
oi either persuasion would be much concerned at mere recrudescence of rebellion by the Arabs
• of Arabia against the Turk. It may be presumed that educated classes would view sin 1 1
disaffection with regret, but I doubt whether there would be active resentment. Action from
against the Hedjaz railway of course suggests itself, but that quarter seems to be beyond
scope of your telegram under reply.
I had already thought of best means of influencing leading Mohammedan chiefs in India in
the event of I urkey making a general appeal to Moslems, and I will at once prepare the ground
on the lines of your private telegram of 2nd September.
J >Sir Ij. Malle! I to Sir Edward Grey, dated dth September 1914.
(Telegraph ic.)
1 hear that Inspectm from Constantinople of Committee of Union and Progress 1< ii
lii'zeroum on the 1st September for Persia, where ho has previously lived. He was accom
panied bj three Persian revolutionists from Constantinople, one of them named AghaMehenx t
Ali. I hey have ideas about Afghan and Indian Moslems, and also intend to stir up anti-
liussian trouble in Persia.
X S‘cretary of Sta‘e for Li lia to Viceroy, drived Gfh S plumber 1914.
Tour private telegram of 4th September. Turkey. Your suggestions are under con
sideration and 1 will reply as soon as possible.
Meanwhile I note as follows:
Paiagraph 1. French and Russian Governments have agreed to assurance being given hi
their names also.
Paragraph 4. I have already asked for another ship. Would force destined for German
Fast Africa suflice for Basra, and Abadan ?
» ... . *7
Paragraph b. Assurance to Sheikh of Mohammera has not j et been sanctioned. Foreign A
Office reply is awaited. A ‘ A
Paragraph 10. You have not referred to suggestion of encouraging Arabs to seize h<>. ,
places, but from what you say 1 infer that seizure might have bad effect in India’ In any
rase we must be prepared for Jehad, as Germans will probably not shrink from instigating i. *
Ij I'ieiroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 11th September 1914.
Private. My private telegram of 4th September. Diversions against Turkey. Xotabb s
of Basra, with whom the Sheiks of Koweit and Mohammerah are in touch, are the family . f
Xakib and Seyyid Talib, whose adherence it is essential to secure.
In this connection Resident now telegraphs as follows:—
" It would be convenient in the event of war with Turkey for me to have authority to make
certain assurances to Seyyid, who is all powerful in Basra town itself. May I be permitted to
exercise my discretion provided that I do not go beyond tirst two assurances suggested in case of
Sheikh of Koweit, to which a third might be added, namely, the maintenance in all their
hereditary property and privilege of Seyyid and the family of Nakib of Basra. In the case of
any further demands made by Seyyid, 1 think that I should promise to refer them to Govern
ment with my recommendations if I consider them legitimate.”
I concur, and, subject to your approval, propose(d) to give Resident discretion asked f
subject, of course, to final authority to put plans into execution.
M Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated 11th September 1914.
Private. Your private telegrams of 2nd and Gth September. Holy places. 1 presume
that assurance extends to Kerbela and other holy places of Mesopotamia.
hi Secretary of State for Lidia to Viceroy, dated 12th September 1914.
Private. Your private telegram of 11th September. Turkey. I presume that two
assurances to Koweit to which Resident refers are first, Tull possession and immunity from
taxation for date gardens; second, immunity from consequences of ejecting Turkish posts.
0 Secretary of State for India to ]'iceroy, dated 14/7/ September 1914.
Private. Your private telegram of 11th instant. Holy places. Assurance covers shrines
i’n Mesopotamia.
p Viceroy to Secretary ef State for Lidia, dated 10/7i September 1914.
Private. Your private telegram of 12th instant. Assurances to Basra notables. 1’y
“ flrst two assurances to Sheikh of Koweit," referred to by Resident, we understood and mean",
tirst, full possession of date gardens! and, secondly, immunity of same from taxation, it
would seem that assurance of immunity for ejecting Turkish posts could hardly be needed in
case of Basra notables, but Resident is being asked to remove ambiguity. •