"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [ظ‎‎٥] (٣١٠/١٥)

4
that the Beglar Beggi (Mayor) of Khurram-
abad warned Colonel Douglas that the road was
unsafe, and urged him to give up the journey ;
and that the iirman Firma, who had just taken
up the Government of Luristan, telegraphed to
Colonel Douglas in the same sense. This tele
gram was only received by Colonel Douglas
after the attack. The Mushir-ed-Dowlah was
informed by Mr. Grant Dull that the Persian
Government was held responsible for the
attack.
15. In connection with the above inci
dent, Major Cox reported on the 21st December
that the Firman Firma was then being pressed
by the Central Government to proceed to
Luristan to punish the tribes concerned in
the attack, but His Highness does not relish
the duty, and, as a last resort, has put
forward the plea of the sudden illness of his
wife (who is the Shah’s daughter). He tried
to get a medical certificate from Lieutenant
Williams, Consulate Surgeon at Kermanshah,
in support of his statement; but as only a
totally insufficient examination was permitted,
no certificate could be granted by that
officer. Sir Arthur Hardinge telegraphed on
the 5th January that he had been assurea by
the Persian Government that a punitive
expedition under the Governor-General of
Kermanshah, to be accompanied by Lieutenant
Williams, I.M.S., would start by the 15th
January.
16. The Minister proposes to demand an
indemnity of £1,000 spread over two years, to
be divided between the two officers together
with their out of pocket expenses. Should the
Persian Government fail to inflict punishment
on the Lurs within a year, he suggests that the
British Government might demand to be
allowed to undertake the task, by authorising
punitive operations to be carried out by the
Baktiaris, or other tribes, under the direct
supervision of a British officer. The cost of the
operations to be borne by the Persian Govern
ment.
17. Mohammerah .—In connection with
the Karun irrigation scheme {vide Memoran
dum for December 1901, paragraph 8), Major
Morton, B.E., the Engineer officer detailed to
proceed to Ahwaz, will leave Karachi on the
22nd January. Sir Arthur Hardinge has notified
Major Morton’s deputation to the Grand
Vizier, who has arranged for a confidential
consultation between Major Morton and the
Dutch Engineer, who has already been at work
since the beginning of the month.
18. The reply of the Prime Minister on
the question of the levy of chancellerie fees on
Sheikh Khazal’s dates {vide Memorandum for
November last, paragraph 10) is reported to
have been satisfactory; He assured the Sheikh