Page 215 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1907 1000. 31
10. During tbc last two months the Khans have repeatedly declared their
intention of coining down to meet the Sheikh in his own territory, but up to the
.end of March they had not made good their words. That such a matter should
have como under contemplation is in itself something, and appears significant
of a considerable shifting of their habitual point of view. Formerly only
junior Khans, such as Yusuf Khan, have visited the Sheikh, and that only in
the capacity of subordinate Agents.
11. Whether owing to merely external circumstances or not, the relations
of the Sheikh with Sheikh Mubarak of Koweit have come into greater promi­
nence than previously. The visit of Sheikh Mubarak to Failiya in connection
with the marriage of Chasib, Sheikh KhazaTs son, occurred before the beginning
of the period now under review, hut. only slightly so, and the visit was repeated
during the course of the Deni Turuf campaign.
Sheikh Mubarak is reported to have proffered his aotivo assistance In that
campaign, which was, it is said, declined. Hut the attention of the Tehran
Majlis was attracted and a question was asked in that assembly as to the
relations of the two Sheikhs and the presence of Mubarak, an alien, in Persian
territory. There is always an inherent readiness in the Persian mind to believe
in Sheikh KhazaTs desire to emancipate himself from the sovereignty of
Persia, though lie has done nothing to justify such an inference, and is probably
not particularly anxious to accept the anxh ties of independence were they
placed within his immediate reach.
12. The Turks.—Tho antagonism between Persia and Turkey which, if not
aotually caused by the border question at Urumia, has at least been clearly
brought to a focus in that region, has latterly begun to bear fruit in tbc minds of
the people of South-West Persia. It is difficult to give dates, but already in
the beginning of the last cold weather there were rumours of designs of aggres­
sion harboured by the Turks, audit was asserted • that they intended to
foster unrest among the tribes on their border with a view to precipitating an
iovasion into the Hawiza district. These rumours, simulated apparently by
actual signs of military activity at Basrah and Baghdad eventually developed
in March into circumstantial aocounts of orders received by the Sheikh from
Tehran to attack and seize Basrah, and of mustorings of his followers com­
manded by him with that object.
No breach of the international peace in this quarter has, however, as yet
occurred.
It is generally asserted by the Arabs here that the Arab subjects of the
Sultan in the neighbourhood of Basrah would be only too willing to fall under
the rule of the Sheikh.
The Shoikh moreover has very extensive landed property on the south of
the Shat-el-Arab, and his tenants on Turkish soil amount, on the authority of
8heikh Hanzal, to 30,000 (men or souls?).
An outbreak of hostilities in this region may be regarded as a very remote
contingency, but were it to occur tbe initial advantage would lie with the
'Persians, which it would not, it may be presumed, in tho north where the
Turks arc exerting pressure.
13. Before quitting the subject of the external affairs of Southern Arabistan,
it should bo remarked that the Sheikh, tiring of his endeavours to secure the
effective co-operation of tho Bnkhtiari Khans in the Government of Belibahan
District, threw up his part in that Government, and withdrew Sheikh Hanzal,
•who had been representing hini at Behbahan. Sheikh Hanzal’s return took
•place in May, hut. tho forma) renouncement of the Government by the Sheikh
•was of a later date.
14. British A {fairs.—The principal question relating to British interests
dn Southern Arabistan, during the period now under consideration, .was in
•connection with the purchaso and sale of wheat.
The harvest of 1007 was a bumper one, and the oxports of grain, com­
mencing in August, were largo. Export was still in full sowing in November,
when in favourable seasons the first winter rains are looked for. The early
rains arc not essential to good crops in the following year as sowing may tako
place any time boforo the end of January.