'Situation in Persia, Vol. II' [‎267r] (185/244)

NOTH FOR Pt.; dXit CCi.. IT . ■- - giiHX- i^RC} 191b.
#■ 'ozdhi-) '
In regard to Sir C .darling's telegram Ho,^37 of liarch
«.Oth, attention is called to the General Staff Memorandum*sent
to the Foreign and India Offices on the 15th larch, which
emphasized the necessity of taking measures in advance to co^e
with the present dangerous military situation. The occupation
of Isfahan is not only a reasonable precaution, it is a *
ISj-irJr^fr£y...neeg.,e 11y, if only because of the fact that armoured
cars are absolutely necessary for operations in North Persia,
ano a sufficient supply of petrol can only be guaranteed if we
hold Isfahan and can induce the Eakhtiari to allow of its
transport by the Lynch road from Abadan. The Bakhtiari can
only be won over by a show of force however small and the
appointment of a Bakhtiari Governor of Isfahan. If Isfahan
is not occupied and if the Bakhtiari are not won over, this
tribe will be honeycombed as before by German agents and
intrigue, and. a diiiicult if not dangerous situation on the
of ° ur farc ®s in Mesopotamia and at the oilfields
will be the result.
/£ bvtt ii
To deal with Marling *s objections (telegram N0.237)
seriatim.
urges that occupation of Isfahan would
cause irritation" and agitation both in Tehran and
Isfahan. Strong measures will always cause
irritation* and 'agitation' in an opponent who sees
that bluster and intrigue are doomed. The Germans
arc irritating and agitating the Bolshevists, but
this does not cuase them any anxiety. Marling it
must be remembered in one of his recent telegrams
himself urged strong measures as these would
^ hearten our f- .lends : Sir Charles arling like many
others appears to ignore the fact that we are at
war and that our Indian Empire is at stake.
Marling urges that "the force that could be
sent would not be sufficient to impose respect until
reality and seriousness of Western movement is
placed beyond a doubt."
As to imposing respecty Sir Percy Sykes in
1916 entered Persia with 750 Indian troops. (They
were reported at once to be the vanguard of 30,000)
Persian ’’resistance'' and German intrigue fell down
ilat before him. He marched 1,000 miles and raised
ti e South Persian Rifles out of rebel gendarmerie
in that hotbed of German Intrigue, Shiraz.
The C-in-C.,India after consulting fir P.
Sykes,says that,
companies Burma Mounted Iniantry ( Fn gl 1 ghmen)
2 companies Indian Infantry,
1 company South Persian Rifles (under British
Officers),
1 section Mountain Artillery (Indian)
1 section machine gun squadron (S.P.R.)
could be scared and could reach Isfahan 5 weeks
alter receipt of orders to move. (They have been
given orders by the C-in-C. ,to be ready) The above
troops are considered sufficient by the military
authorities. (C-in-C.,India and Sir F.Sykes).
Dunstervilie f s