"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٤‎١] (٣٩٦/٨٩)

4
PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTKATION EEPORT
The Persian GoTernment assured His Majesty's Minister on more than
one occasion that the prisoners would shortly be released either by Soulet-ud-
Dculeh or some other means, but nothing resulted.
The prisoners having intimated that some of them could escape, sketch
maps and notes of routes were secretly sent to them, arrangements were made
with certain Khans on the borders of Dashti, which is not far from Ahram, to
receive them and assist them to reach the coast at some point near La war.
This plan, however, did not materialise, as the prisoners afterwards decided
that as all could not get away they would not make the attempt.
. Later, Lieutenant-Colonel O'Connor wrote that the prisoners could seize the
fort in which they were confined, and asked for details as to how soon the
General Officer Commanding could have men at Ahram to relieve the prisoners
after hearing of the seizure of the fort. . The proposal to send troops out for
this purpose, however, was vetoed, and this plan also came to nothing.
His Majesty's Minister accordingly decided that, as the severest part of
the hot weather was rapidly approaching, and there appeared to be no hope
of effecting the release of the prisoners through the Persian Government, it
would be better to try and arrange it ourselves with the Khans.
Finally, in July, after considerable telegraphing as to details of terms,
orders were received to enter into negotiations with the Khans for the exchange
of prisoners on the basis of the conditions proposed by the Khans, except that
nothing which could be construed into a pardon should be given them.
While this question was under consideration news was received that
Mr. Christmas was dangerously ill, and after some correspondence and a pre
liminary point blank refusal by Shaikh Hussain, it was arranged to exchange
two of the Tangistani prisoners for him separately, without prejudice to the
general question. This was done, and Mr. Christmas was brought in to
Bushire on 2nd August. After the abovementioned refusal to exchange Mr.
Christmas, Sub-Assistant Surgeon Parid Khan was sent out to Ahram to see the
prisoners. He missed Mr. Christmas, who passed him on the road, but reported
the other prisoners all well, though severely tried by the heat and the hard
conditions of life.
After considerable delay and some misunderstanding an exchange was
arranged on the following terms :—
(1) Khalu Hussain and the Tangistani prisoners to be exchanged against
Colonel O'Connor and the British prisoners;
(2) Certain monies belonging to Shaikh Hussain to be returned, and
certain tea confiscated at Bahrain, which was claimed by Zair
Khidhar, to be returned to him ;
(3) The route across the Mashilla to Borasjum via Ahmedi, which had
been closed by our outposts since the occupation, to be re
opened .
On the 10th August the exchange was effected, but, owing to an unfortu
nate mistake, Zair Hussain was not present—he had been sent to Bombay instead
of to Bushire from Basrah by mistake on the 29th July, and could not be got
back in time. This naturally caused a good deal of difficulty, which was
settled by Colonel O'Connor remaining with the Khans till Zair Hussain was
produced. The latter was returned to Bushire on the 20th and Colonel
O'Connor Was released the same day.
The whole party of prisoners, except Mr. Livingstone, proceeded to India
by the Hired Transport " Elephanta " on the 23rd August.
In December 1915 the Qawam-ul-Mulk, who had been appointed Acting
Qawam-ul-Mulk, Acting Governor-General of Fara G OVCmOr- General Of Pars in September,
. . was driven out of Shiraz by a determined
attack on the part of the Gerdarmene and tf Democrats He withdrew to his
own tribal territory and the rebels at once nominated Nasir-ul-Mulk (first
nominee for Governor of Bushire in September 1915) to be Governor and
" Amir-ul-Mulk " to be Ilkhani of the Arab tribes.