"ملف ٨/٣ شؤون أولاد الشيخ خزعل." [و‎‎٤‎٧] (٥٠٨/٩٣)

7 !
i.
SECRET.
No. C/66.
The TOli'Cic'hX Agency,
Kuwait.
Dated the 3rd February, 1946.
The Hon’hie the Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf, BUSHIRE .
Subject :- Shaikh Abdullah Khaz f al
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose a translation of a letter
received from Sha5-kh Abdullah Khas’al requesting instructions
as to his future actions.
/
2. He has verbally stated
(a) That he will carry on no political activity while in
Kuwait.
(b) That if granted an amnesty and permission to live on
his property in Iran he will assist the Persian Government in
every way provided it does not come under Communist control.
He points out that, when tribes such as the Qashgai who were
persistently anti-British during the war have succeeded in
regaining their "rights", it is an anomaly that the family or
ShaiKh Khaz f al who have always been our friends should not have
regained theirs.
(c) That he has now no property left in f Iraq and that he is
prepared to die fighting for his rights rather than^to continue
his present existence. He appears to be under the impression
that with 500 rifles and the support of the divines of Nejef
he could establish the independence of Khuziztan and maintain
it against the Persian Government and army, provided there was
no hostile interference from British forces.
(d) That if his return to Khuziztan is forbidden^by us and
he is required to reside elsewhere than in Kuwait or in Saudi
Arabia he must either have a stipend from the Income of his
family estates or be reduced to beggary.
3. The bacfcjound to his excapade appears to have been as follows*
He visited Nejef and consulted the 3hia T religious leaders, m
particular Shaikh Abdul Karim Zanjani, and found them concerned
over the future of their faith in Iran in view of Communist
influences and the new Kisrowi religion. I surmise that they
refused to proclaim jehad but suggested to him that, if ne could
take up residence in Khuziztan and form a focus for local feel
ing they were prepared to accord him their backing at the appro
priate time. This accords with an approach previously made to
this Agency by a Shia* divine here on the lines^that,the Arabs
of Khuziztan would welcome independence of Persia and affiliation
with India under British protection.
x"
/'
I have the honour to be,