Page 372 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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Thai portion of this information which rclalos to Molmmmerali is conjcotur.il; and with
respect to the massacre at Kcrbcla, though stated circumstantially in a Report transmitted to
mo by Her Majesty's Consul at Damascus it is not mentioned to mo by Colonel Taylor, who
wrote, howevor, immediately after tho capturo of tho placo, and, to nil appearance, upon tho
exclusive statement of tho l’asha.
Tho Porto dcnioi that tho Pasha acted in pursuance of instructions from Constantinople,
but the Paslm in ono of his communications to Colonel Taylor, appears to have adopted his
measures under a different impression.
The objoct of your journey to Baghdad under theso circumstances arc to assist in dissuad­
ing the Pasha from prosecuting any designs offensive to Persia during the negotiations at Erze-
ruom to enforce, by n decided expression of my opinion, ns representing that of Iler Majesty's
Government., His Excellency's complete obedience to the instructions of the Porte which I
am assured by Sarioo EfTeodi have been issued in conformity with my advice, and to ascertain,
with tho assistance of Colonel Taylor, the true state of things on the spot, both as to what may
he justly complained of by Persia, and what may be furthor in contemplation on the part of
Nogib Pasha.
I am not yet informed of the impressiou made at the Court of Tehran by the storm of
Kerhcla and the slaughter if it be true, of so many of its Persian inhabitants, but should those
lead to tho adoption of any violent resolution, notwithstanding the exertions of Count Medem
and Colonel Shell, your presence at Baghdad may algo afford the means of preventing or
arresting the commission of any hostile acts on the side of Persia and enable the English and
Russian Commissioners at Erzeroom to keep tho negotiation alive.
Your ioteroourso with Negib Paeha may also afford you an opportunity of removing .any
danger of collision to he apprehended on tho frontier of Sulimaniah in consequence of the
advance of the Turkish troops, and the reinforcement sent to Aidelan. Tho Pasha of the
former district, as you know, is in dependence on tho Vizir commanding at Baghdad.
Being pressed for time by the departure) of the Starnbou! and anxious not to lose the
interval of a whole week I confine myself for the present to this hurried outline of my views
in requesting your services on this occasion. A more complete instruction shall he addressed
for you to Baghdad under cover to Her Majesty’s Consul.
In the meantime I send you herewith a travelling Firman and a letter of introduction in
your favour from the Grand Vizir to Negib Pasha.
I have, &o„
(Sd.) STRATFORD CANNING
Constantinople ;
March 9th, 1943.
To Lieutenant-Colonel I arrant, etc,, etcetc., Baghdad.
Sir,
Since I wrote to you on the 24th ultimo I have received the notification of your
arrival at Erzeroom and reckoning therefore on the probability of your having proceeded to
Baghdad, now address you these agioeably to my original intention.
I lament to state that the last advices from Teheran have unhappily confirmed the
reported massacre at Kcrbcla. Lieutenant-Colonel Slieill ia writing to Lord Aberdeen, and
Count Modem, in addressing Monsieur de Boutcneff, describes in vivid terms tho deep feel­
ings of sorrow and indignation excited in Persia by the intclligonco of that catastrophe.
The accompanying copies of two official reports, addressed by the Persian Agent at Baghdad to
Hadjee Meerza Aghassee and communicated by His Excellency's order to Count Medem and
Lieutenant-Colonel Shiell, will apprize you of the circumstances, which have produced 60
painful an impressufn on tho Count, and as far as they were known publicly upon the people
of Persia. To soften that impression and to dissuade the Shah from giving way to any
sudden ebullition of resentment were the object for which both the British and Russian
representatives employed their strenuous efforts. The degree of success which attended their
benevolent exertions has unfortunately left hut too much room for a recurrenco to measures
of angry demonstration, and perhaps eventually of menace and hostility. An order for the
collection of troops appeared to he tho only measure actually decided upon ; but it was
thought probable that reinforcements would ho sent to Tabrcz and Hamadcn.
No pains have been spared by Monsieur de Boutcneff and myself to impress upon tho
Porte the propriety and indeed the indispensable justice of making full atonement for tho
horrors perpetrated at Kcrbela. Our joint representations have been hitherto met by tho
Turkish Minister with an utter unqualified denial of tho fact; and it is therefore more than
ever requisite to institute an inquiry on the spot. For this purpose I havo proposed that a
Turkish Commissary should he dc.-patchcd to Haghdad with instructions to co-operate with
you, and I do not despair of engaging the Porte to adopt bo useful a measure, but as tho
weekly steam packet for Samsoon and Trobizond sets out to-morrow, I am unwilling to loso
a whole week in waiting for a contingency, which inay not he ultimately realized.