خارجي ٤١/٥٠٠٠(٢) "بلاد فارس: الوضع قبيل احتلال الحلفاء، وما بعده" [و‎‎٧‎٩] (٦٠٦/١٥٧)

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Aliottcd to External Dent
O opies Circiilated.
D E C Y P HER
13305
R OP T E L E G RAM
Prom Political Resident in the Persian Gul£ 7 to S, of S. for India,
Bated Bahrain 16.00 hrs, 26th August, 1941.
Received 22.45 hre, 26th Aug, 1941.
XXX
IMPORTANT.
T. 509^
idea of what H. if
I should he moat grateful if you coiuld give me a^^me
Govt, have in mind in Persia. For the last four
weeks T have not been clear as to the position and Minister may already be
cut ( ? corrupt group).
to open iip eorcmunicationa with Russia and that since occupation will last
till end of war object also is to secure complaisance of Persian Govt. Is it
your intention to maintain Consular posts and British subjects in status quo
until Persian attitude is known? This would strenghen position but there ♦
is danger that ncsimunicationa may be cut e Senior Naval Officer has stea mer
and sloop standing by for Bus hire but out of sight of land and has sent Sloop
to Bandar Abbas to capture Italian ship Hilda*,
(5) Persians in Bahrein were much alarmed. I saw leading men this
morning and assured them that so long as they pursued normal avocations they
had nothing to fear. They (? very seriously) j. jiutred if dhow trade would
be stopped and pointed out that Bahrein depends c.tf it for meat, ghi, Parley
etc. 1 said that so far as I it would continue. 1 recommend very
strongly that ev en if Persia declares war this trade should be allowed
to continue. It is not subject to Persian control and merchants on both sides
are well disposed to us.
(4) Manager of Bahrain Oil Company was much a.«ar,.cd at ±hc possibility
of hostile Persians entering the oil areas but 1 have reassured him that local
Persians are friendly, that controls exist and that they cannot damage the
oil installations y/ith bare hands.
(5) Persians enquired if any opposition had been made and T replied
that only slight resistance had been met with. National feeling on this coast
is not strong except among a fe^oung shop keepers but tangible propaganda
mentioning heroism of British troops or alluding to " victories” would have bad
2<> I presume that in addition to securing oil areas intention is
(■'•)♦ 1 ©xa instructing (? Political Agent)s to reassure Persians
ir the sense of parngrtiph (b) R)ove o/id tm pi•oin^ (? no restrictions
upon clilTT traffic. Please confir..: that no reotr-ctione on dherr
traffic is conco;^-^atedc
RECo. POL. DEPt.
27AUG 941
INDIA OFFICE