ملف رقم ٣٤٥ لسنة ١٩٠٨ الجزء الأول "المحمرة: الوضع. تطمينات بريطانية للشيخ." [و‎‎١‎٤‎٨] (٤١٦/٣٠٠)

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(No. 123. Confidential.)
Sir, Tehran, May 21, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, with reference to my telegram No. 124
of to-day’s date, copy of the despatch in which His Majesty’s Consul at Mohammerah
reports the conclusion of a formal alliance in writing between the Sheikh of Mohammerah
and the Bakhtiari Khans.
I must confess that I was quite unprepared to see the negotiations on which I
reported in my despatch Not 97 of the 23rd April arrive at a result so speedily. I
cannot entertain very sanguine hopes as to the durability of such an arrangement, but
so long as it lasts it seems calculated to assist in promoting peace and preserving order
in the regions governed by the respective Chieftains—regions where there are numerous
and important British interests—and as such I venture to think that its conclusion may
not be displeasing to His Majesty’s Government. To my mind the arrangement seems
to be a step in the right direction, and all the more satisfactory in that it was taken
without foreign instigation or assistance.
I have, &c.
(Signed) CHARLES M. MARLING.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Cons-ul McDouall to Mr. Marling.
(No. 13. Confidential.)
Sir, Mohammerah, Apiil 24, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to report that the Sardar Arfa went to Wais to meet the
Bakhtiari Khans ; owing to illness he was unable to remain, and Salar Arfa, Shehab-
es-Saltaneh, and Sarim-el-Mulk returned to Mohammerah with him on the 14th
April and left on the 21st. On that day they called on me with Haji Rais Tujar to
represent the Sardar Arfa, who was unable to come ashore owing to the abscess
he is suffering from. They informed me that they had now conferred with the
Sardar Arfa and made friends with him, and made a formal written alliance with him ;
that in future they are to act together, and their respective tribesmen must obey the
chief of the district, Arab or Bakhtiari, in which they happen to be. They are to act
together in loyal service to the Government and people of Persia so long as there is no
interference with the various concessions held by them respectively or increase in the
taxes demanded; but if such interference or alteration in taxes is made they will act
as one in resisting it. They hope that this will tend to render the country, and espe
cially the Ispahan road, perpetually safe. Haji Rais Tujar confirmed this, and both
parties called on me to witness that they had made this agreement, and in the event of
any dispute occurring between them they asked that we should inquire and, on finding
out with whom the fault lay, advise that party that he is in the wrong.
The Salar Arfa said that the Legation had on several occasions advised them to
make friends with the Sardar Arfa, and now that they had done so they hoped that the
Legation might be able to give them a certain increased amount of support in
Tehran.
1 said that I was very glad to hear that they had made friends, which should tend
to increased security for trade in these districts ; that I would report the matter to His
Majesty’s Legation and Consul-General, Bushire ; and that I would always be glad to
assist by advice in preventing any disagreement between them. It had appeared to me
that there had heen a difficulty in arranging matters before owing to the Khans them-
[1813 i —23j