Page 108 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

8 G Part I.

pace with discretion. Iu the summer of 1001 he was expelled from Tohoran
for being implicated in a conspiracy against A tab eg-i-Azam. Ho travelled
then to Constantinople and ultimately found his way to Baghdad. In May
3903 he proceeded to Korbolla and Najaf and carried on an agitation with tho
Mujtaliids against the then existing regime in Persia.
103. On 8th July 1003, Sir A. Hardinge telegraphed to the Resident at
Baghdad that tho Persian Government had applied to tho Legation, and would
probably apply to the Porto also, for the removal of Abdul Ali from Kcrbclla,
and Major Ncwmarch was desired to send him a message, telling him that ho
would do well to withdraw from there for the time being to somo other part of-
the Turkish Rmpiro, and that he would bo given a present for himself and
pecuniary assistance for this pnrposo.
399. On 16th July 1903, Abdul Ali left Kerbolla for Baghdad and on
the following day ho was sent by tho Resident on hoard the Khalifa, provided
with a through ticket for Karachi for Rs. 250. He arrived at Karachi on
29th July and at Lahore on 27th August. He resided afterwards at Karachi
and travelled about iu Sind and Punjab.
200. In September 1903, ho was remitted Rs. 70 by Sir A. Hardinge in
response to his complaints that Karachi was an expensive place to live in, and
a verbal mrssagn was asked by Sir A. Hardinge to be communicated to him
that in view of the fall of the Grand Vizier and the formation of a new
government in Persia, there was reason to hopo that ho might boforo long bo
able to return either to Persia or to Irak Arab.
201. In October 1901, Abdul Ali was informed that the Persian Govern­
ment had no objection to his returning to
Secret E., M«j 1905, Nos. 150-162.
Asiatic Turkey, and the Commissioner in
Sind was instructed to pay tho passage of tho Sheikh from Karachi to Baghdad,
should ho elect to proceed to that place.
202. It would appear that a pension enjoyed by the Sheikh in common
with other Afghan refugees since the days of Nasir-ud-din Shah was stopped at
the time of his expulsion from Tehoran in 1901, but Sir A. Hardinge proposed
: to approaoh His Highness Amin-ed-Dowlah, for whom (and on whose pay
probably) he had acted whilst agitating at Kerbella and Najaf against Ataheg-
i-Azam, with a view to relieving the British Government of tho necessity
of giving him further financial assistance. Sir A. Hardinge deprecated
a complete abandonment of the Sheikh; since although we have no immediate
need of his services, he might, under easily conceivable circumstances, bo
useful to us as a secret agent among the Ulemas.
203. Abdul Ali contemplated, however, remaining in India. Major
Newmarch was glad to learn of this deter­
Secret E., Auguit 1905, No«. 240 241.
mination, for he regarded him as a danger­
ous and useless person, who had already cost Government more than ho was worth
and who was ready to sell his employer to the highest bidder. Major Newmarch
could not see how he could ever be again employed as our secret agent, as his
identity, position and dependence upon us were well known to the Turkish
authorities (Major Newmarch to tho Poreign Department, dated 19th April
1905).
204. It may he mentioned that Agha Sharabiani died in 1904, and
.
! 8ccrct E., August 1906, Noi. 240-241. is succeeded by Agha Fazil Mem aka nt
in the influential position he held. On
28th March 1905, the Ulema at Najaf appears to .have addressed a message
to “all the protectors of Islam and groat priests in Teheran ” praising the admin­
istration of Ain-ed-Dowlah aud desiring that lie should be supported in his
projects for the welfare of Persia.
205. It appears that tho attitude of somo at least of the Persian Mujtahids
in Turkish Arabia was regarded as once
Secret E., .May 1505, Ho. 295.
somewhat hostile towards the Uecijaz
Railway. Ouo of them issued an order prohibiting the Shiahs from making use