Page 423 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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bo arranged to take place as soon ns order was restororl and satisfaction given for
Mr. Graves’ murder (Mr. Hardin go's telegram, dated 25th December 1897
to the Government of India).
170. With reference to this telegram, the Secretary of Stato telegraphed to
tlio Viceroy on 27tl> Decomber 1897—
“ Can you sen'! to Clmrbar and Jask tlio detachment of Native Infantry, and would the7
euffitro ? If not, what force would you suggest ? Have you any observation to mako on th«
policy which, having regard to British Indian interest*, commercial, telegraph and political,
it is dcsirablo that wo should consider or follow if matters in Persian Baluchistan came to a
crisis ?’
177. The roply of the Government of India, dated 4th January 1898,
was—
“ We are prepared to send 100 mon to Charbar uiul 60 men to Jask for protection of
telegraph staff at those places. Above strength should suffice for purely defensive purposes.
I caouot reply without further consideration regarding extent of British inuian interests in
Persian Baluchistan, but effective military intervention or occupation coni a not Le attempted
by the Government of India with the forces nou> at disposal.”
178. Onohundred rifles, 21st Bombay Infantry, wore accordingly sent
from Bombay for Charbar and 50 for Jask, on 9th January 1898, under the
command of Lieut. Creagh and Lieut.-Waller, respectively.
179. Mr. Hardingo telegraphed on 20th January 1898 that ho had agreed
to the transfer to the Hapch of suoh
Noe. 75-7G.
Indian troops as could ho spared from
Jask and Charbar, and that ho proposed at Colonel Meade’s urgent request to
authorize him to employ a party of Indian sepoys in supporting Persian troops
in destruction of the property of tho tribesmen, because Mr. Graves* murderers
had not been surrendered. The Government of India replied on 21st January
approving of the employment of Indian troops to guard the telegraph camp on
tlio llapch, as it was understood that the presence of the telegraph officer there
was unnecessary ; but at the time they informed Sir A. Hardingo that they
could not agree to Indian troops being used to enforce against the offending
tribe the authority of the Persian Government or to carry out punitive
measures for tohich the Persian Government were responsible.
180. The detachments at Charbar and Jask were reduced to 80 men at cacli
place in April 1898, as the situation was
Ibid No. 145.
improving (Residents* telegram to the
Government of India, dated 30th April 1898).
181. When Sir A. Hardingo mentioned to the Mushir-ed-Dowlah the fact
of the move of our troops to Jask and Charbar, and the intended despatch of
a portion of them to the Rapoh river, tho latter remained silent and raised no
objection to our proceedings.
(IV) Unauthorized action of Commander Baker of the “ Sphinx ” in landing a force a$
Cutaf in Persian territory and proceeding with it to llapch in February 1S9S.
182. Tho facts of tins incident are as follows : The Persian Government
having sent a force to exact reparation for
8oo. E, August ls98, Nos. 11—237 (No. 228).
the murder of Mr. Graves, and the tribes
having assumed a threatening attitude, a request for the lauding of an armed
party for the defence of the telegraph station at Knpch was sent, at tho
instance of Her Majesty’s Chargd d’AlTairos at Teheran, by the Resident at
Bushire, to tho Commander of tier Majesty’s ship Redbreast, on the 9th
February 1898. A force of 29 men with a machine gun was in consequence
landed at Galag and proceeded to Itapch, under Commander Eraser, of Her
Majesty*8 ship Cossack.
183. On the 12th Commander Eraser telegraphed from Rapch to Com­
mander Baker at Jask, stating that lie learnt from Mr. Campbell, the. telegraph
em ploy6, that the Government of India had objections to the employment of
British troops for anything but defensive purposes, that the Commander of the
Persian force on the spot intended to recommence on tho 14th the cutting
down of date trees as a punitivo measure, that- tho Baluchis were collecting
in considerable numbers, and if the Persians suffered a reverse, reinforcements