ملف ١٧٤٩\ ١٩٢١ "الخليج الفارسي:- ملخصات إخبارية للمقيمية البريطانية ١٩٢١-١٩٢٥" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٩] (٤٩٤/٢٧٣)

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therefore been decided to suspend the movement; that would gi'e us plenty of
breathing space to discuss the matter more fully in its various aspects and find the best
solution. The Prime Minister thereupon said—and the statement is a noteworthy one
in view of his subsequent attitude—that if he had known that 1 entertained such
strong views on the subject he would never have authorised the despatch of the
contingent. To my retort that he had taken no steps to asceitain my views, and that^
I had moreover made them known in a general manner to bardar Sepah on a previous
occasion and before his own resumption of office, his Highness was only able to say,
rather fatuously, that he supposed I knew all about the preparations.^
His Highness then enquired whether my preoccupation was principally in respect
of the Sheikh of Mohammerah’s interests. I replied that L was well aware ot the
sheikh’s apprehensions and that in my opinion they were by no means unnatural, but
my principal anxiety was concerned with the important British interests represented by
the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, a matter in which the Persian Government, moreover,
itself had a considerable stake. I asked his Highness to understand clearly that 1 did
not question the right of the Persian Government to send troops wheie it liked within
Persian territory, but that did not preclude me from pointing out my decided view ,n
regard to the inadvisability of the present step, and although I spoke in a friendly way
and couched my observations in the form of friendly counsel, 1 did not wish him to
suppose that I was not, on that account, speaking very seriously..
Kawam-es- Sultaneh said that as regards the Anglo-Persian Oil Company tde
presence of a Persian Government force in the neighbourhood could only contribute to
the safety of its operations and that in any case the oilfields would .be outside the
purview of the Governor-General’s bodyguard, and as regards the Sheikh ot Moham-
merah, both he himself and Sardar Sepah were willing to give every assurance that bis
interests were not in any way threatened or endangered. He expressed the hope that
I would telegraph to the sheikh and calm any apprehensions which he might entertain.
I said that I was quite willing to acquaint the sheikh with the situation and with bis
Highness’s remarks, and that if, in view thereof, the sheikh acquiesced that would no
doubt alter to some extent one aspect of the case ; hut it there was a question ot giving
the sheikh assurances, I thought it would be much more suitable for these to lie
communicated direct to his Excellency by the Persian Ministers themselves
On the 23rd July Sardar Sepah took luncheon with me at the Legation, and while
we were talking afterwards he let drop the remark that the Arabistan detachment was
proceeding down the Bakhtiari road. I at once enquired, rather tartly, I fear, how tins
could be, in view of the definite assurance given me by Kawam-es-Sultaneh through
Mr. Havard that pending further discussion the troops would remain where they were.
Sardar Sepah replied that the Prime Minister, on returning to town after his visit to
me two days previously, had written to him that he had conquered all my objections to
the despatch of the force, and had, moreover, made a. statement in a similar sense at a
Cabinet meeting. I at once expressed my amazement and indignation at the travestied
version of my interview with the Prime Minister, which completely destroyed^ any
chance of maintaining any relations of confidence with his Highness. Sardar Sepah
was very much taken aback and said that evidently there had been a misunderstanding,
and that we must try to establish its origin. He suggested for the purpose that
Kawam-es*Sultaneh, Mr. Havard, himself and I should meet on the following day.
The meeting was arranged and took place in His Majesty’s Legation on the following
morning. It was of a most painful character. I recalled the observations which I bad
made to his Highness on the 1st July, and asked whether he could quote to me a single
statement made by me which warranted the account which he had rendered to bis
colleagues of our interview. He was unable to do so, and merely reiterated that lie
had gone away with the impression that he had convinced me of the innocuous
character of the measure. I pointed out that, apart from this, his Highness had gone
behind a definite assurance given to me through Mr. Havard without giving n ie * 16
slightest indication that he no-longer considered it binding or seeking my consent to its
lapse. His Highness endeavoured to make out that no such assurance had been given,
an audacious falsehood which Mr. Havard promptly nailed to the counter. Hereupon
Sardar Sepah, no doubt unwilling to witness the further humiliation of his chief, too
leave and went. After this Kawam-es-Sultaneh’s attitude became even more piti u •
I said I now wished to know where I was and what the Persian Government intent ei
to do. W as I to understand that it proposed to ignore totally the advice and warning
which I had given and to proceed with the unwise step which it had initiated? 1( J
Prime Minister w r ould not answer this question; he grew pale and gulped, and nna y
replied affirmatively by nodding his head. I said I should report the circumstances