‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎23r] (50/246)

APPENDIX 268
[By. No. 51895)
Telegram No. 54895, dated 19th May 1916.
(Despatched 10-15 p.m.)
From—The Chief of the General Staff,
To—The General officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Basrah.
Are you now able to extend vegetable garden operations ? If so please
intimate your requirements in seeds and say if Chinese gardeners would be
acceptable if procurable.
Record copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. Y.
Telegram R., No. 2337, dated 18th May 1916. APPENDIX 269
(Despatched 12-80 p.m., received 10 p.m.) (By. No. 51902)
(Received in War Section on 19th May 1916.)
From—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Basrah,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign and Political
Department.
(Addressed to Minister, Tehran ; repeated to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Isfahan.)
Following from Noel at Oil Fields :—“ As result of conversations with
Il-Khani and Ill-Begi I make following observations on Bakbtiari affairs as they
appear to me.
Tribal situation in Chahar Mahal is uncertain and from our point of view
unsatisfactory. Khans are genuinely afraid that subserviency to our interests
involves rendering of such services as arrest of Said Esa as associating them
selves with us in breaking up of Salar Masuds party, etc,, will be sure to involve
them in unpleasant and probably serious difficulties with other Khans. They
are therefore most anxious to obtain from us some guarantee of support.
Questioned as to nature of support they hope for from us, both Khans ask that
British officer with usual Consular escort should accompany them to Ailaqu
and afford them same measure of assistance as that accorded to Jang by Gray.
They point out that Germans and Persian agitators have taken refuge in
Bakhtiari country and that it is not within their powers to eject them without
some overt sign of assistance from us. That this is genuine opinion of Khans
is confirmed by conversation planned by telephone between Mujahid and
Muntazim-ed-Dowleh which we made arrangements to overhear.” My pro
posals will follow.
Record copy to G. S. (M. 0. 3).
Copy to M. S. C, G. S. (M. 0.1, M. O. 2).
Telegram P., No. 16797-Cipher, dated 19th May 1916. APPENDIX 270
(Despatched 11-35 a.m., received 9-50 p.m.) (/ty. No. 54912)
From—The Secretary, War Office, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Your 54362, May 16th, paragraph 5, and your 49892, April 21st.
Regarding the improvement of the communications between Amarah and
Qurnah, how does the matter now stand ?
Forward me the railway proposals under consideration for the above
section.
With regard to the suggestions by you on the matter, have you arranged
for the improvement of river channel ?
Working copy to G. S. (M, 0. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., Railway Board, Q. M. G., G. S. (M. 0. 2,
M. O. 3).