Page 622 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

22 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF
They poihted otit the heavy cost and extension of our responsibilities
entailed by the proposals, which in certain circumstances might lead to a
permanent occupation of the country, which they strongly deprecated.
On 22nd October, His Majesty’s Minister, consequent upon alarming
reports received as to danger to British lives and property in Shiraz, advisod
His Majesty’s Government to arrange for the immediate despatch of 300
men, a step which he considered to be warranted by the situation at Shiraz
apart from the road question.
On the 4th October, the Government of India reported to the Secretary
of State that, in the opinion of their military advisers, no risk would attach
to the despatch of a cavalry regiment to Shiraz and that Orders had been
given to collect the supplies and transport required for the journey.
At this time the situation in Shiraz began to show some signs of improve­
ment, and it was suggested by His Majesty’s Foreign Office that this being
the case the despatch of troops might be suspended. The Resident depre­
cated delay in their despatch principally in view of the condition of the
roads, which was worse than ever, but also in view of the difficulty of sending
them to Shiraz and Ispahan later on, owing to the cold. His Majesty’s
Consul at Shiraz likewise deprecated this suggestion both in view of the
6tate of a Hairs in the town and on the roads.
On the Cth October, the Government'of India pointed out that the troops
could not arrive at Shiraz before November 11th, too late to afford early relief
to the Consulate, and proposed -to defer arrangements for the despatch of
troops until a definite decision had been arrived at as regards the employ­
ment of British troops for the protection of the roads.
On the following day, His Majesty’s Minister announced to the Persian
Government that, owing to possible danger to British lives and property
at Shiraz and elsewhere, His Majesty's Government were compelled to
strengthen the Consulate Guard at that place and possibly also at Ispahan
and Bushire.
The Persian Government urged that the appointment of ’Ala-cd-Dowleh,
and a* reconciliation alleged to have been effected between K a warn and Sowlet,
made the despatch of troops unnecessary.. His Majesty’s Minister in reply­
ing on this point- to the Foreign Office, after explaining the illusory nature
of the alleged reconciliation, said that if the despatch of troops depended
solely upon the situation at Shiraz, the improvement which had occurred
there since the decision to despatch troops had been arrived at, and the further
improvement which was to be expected should ’Ala-ed-Dowleh proceed to
Fars, would justify our postponing the despatch of troops for a week to see
whether ’Ala-ed-Dowleh would proceed to his post or not. His Majesty's
Minister was, however, entirely in favour of the prompt despatch of troops
if their main object was to escort our caravans.
It will be observed from the above that the proposal to locate squadrons
at Ispahan and at Bushire, where there was no suggestion of danger to
British lives and property , was based on the assumption that they would be
used in connection with th e roads, and that the condition of Shiraz was only
a secondary consideration. His Majesty’s Foreign Office, however, whilst
ordering the despatch of troops, instructed His Majesty’s Minister to inform
tne Persian Government that the Consular escorts would only be used for the
protection of British lives and property, and the Consulates, at Bushire,
Shiraz and Ispahan, and that if the Persian Government devised an effective
scheme for the protection of the trade routes, the troops would not patrol
the roads or make expeditions. His Majesty’s Minister asked the Persian
Government to afford facilities at Bushire for the landing of the troops, and
’Ala-ed-Dowleh consented to telegraph to the various Khans along the road
to ensure that no untoward event should occur by their negligence.
It was decided to take no action for the present at Bandar Abbas, Bam or
Kerman.
Two squadrons of the 39thi (K. G. O.) Central India Horse, under
Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Douglas, who had held the position of Military
Attache at Tehran from 1902 to 1907, arrived at Bushire on October 27th and