"الوضع في بلاد فارس، المجلد I" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٠] (٣٥٣/٢٨٣)

/CL
F
rom
icr.ron, Foreign lJr[tarlmenl, I ()///, February
[Repealed to Tehran and Bagdad .) .
(Received J 7th, 1 I a.m.)
Marline’s telegrams til) F. and 103
1918.
led
2th
Secret. Rersia.
Re bn i ary.
As we appreciate situation, there appears to be no likelihood at present
of Turcd-Gorman thrust into North-\Vcst Rersia. Apart from military
considerations mentioned in Gommander-in-l'hjef’s telegram to Chief of
Imperial General Stall, lloih), 12th Rebruan^Pit is unlikely for political
reasons that German} 7 , who now poses as liberator [of] Rersia, would under
take such an advance to attack and eject troops sent by us into'this area.
Immediate danger reduces itself to enemy agents and acts of brigandage.
To combat these, Rersian Cossacks, whether under Russian or British ollicers,
should be adequate (vide Marshall's telegram, X. 0505, 12th Februa ry; to
Chief of Imperial General Staff). Moreover, fn view of failure of their
former missions, Germans will probably not attempt much in this direction,
particularly if we can by liberal policy secure a more friendly Persian
Government and p eop le. If force is to be used it must be on scale sufficient
to completely overawe country and supplied entire!} by ourselves, as Russian
co-operation appears out of the question. Such a diversion could only be
justified on strongest political grounds. To us there appears to be the
strongest political objections. In default of serious provocation—and it
would be difficult to show that such exists -such a measure would finally
discredit us with Rersia and bring on us odium of whole Moslem world. It
would obviously make existence of any real Rersian Government impossible
and would excite liveliest suspicion in Afghanistan, where our action against
neutral Moslem state whose integrity we have guaranteed would undoubtedly
be misrepresented. We trust that a measure which, apart from military
objections and transport difficulties, is open to such objections will not be
sanctioned, merely for the sake of dealing with possible enemy intrigues
before a fair trial has been given to policy of conciliation coupled with
maintenance of existing Rersian Forces, viz., South Rersian Rifles and
Persian Cossacks.
(use of Sulaiman Mirza (vide General Ollicer Commanding Force “ D,”
telegram to Chief of Imperial General Staff, X. 6519, Kith February)
emphasises necessity of early decision as to definite policy to be pursued,
livery day’s delay makes policy of conciliation which we strongly advocate
less practicable.
V
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