Page 415 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1009. 6
The question of the Karun Irrigation was revived at the beginning of
the year in a somewhat inconvenient
Karan irrigation. form\ News reached His Majesty's
Minister, in January, that the Dutch Minister, Monsieur de Sturler, then on
furlough, had obtained a two years option in which to arrange for the acquisi­
tion of a concession for exploitation at Ahwaz, the option commencing from
January 10th, 1909. The Persian Government were warned that, in view
of the communications which had passed on the subject of the Karun Irriga­
tion, the British Government reserved its right to object to the scheme if
found prejudicial to British interests. The Shaikh of Mohammerah heard
of the concession in an exaggerated form about the same time, and took con­
siderable alarm. He was dissuaded from telegraphing to the Persian Govern­
ment, but claimed the right of option for himself, and asked for guarantees
from us that his claims and rights would not be ignored.
The Netherlands Minister made much of the “vague character” of the
concession and assured Sir George Barclay that the Netherlands Government
would give the Syndicate timely warning that no work would be undertaken
without the co-operation of the Shaikh and the support of His Majesty’s
Government.
Shaikh Khazal’s fears were, in a great measure, allayed on receipt of
this news, and no further developments were reported up to the end of the
year.
It was interesting to learn in this connection that it was the expert
opinion of Sir William Willcocks that irrigation from the Karun could be
deferred with advantage for some years to come- He advocated the com­
mencement of irrigation rather from the Ivarkha, and a satisfactory exami­
nation of the locality was accordingly carried out under his advice, and a
scheme prepared, for inception on a suitable opportunity presenting itself.
It will be noted that a most regrettable rupture took place between
Shaikh Ivhazal and his nephew Hanzal, in connection with which the former
seemed inclined to act with haste and severity, but better counsels to some
extent prevailed in the end, and it is to be hoped that the lapse of time will
ultimately reconcile uncle and nephew; failing which, it is difficult toTorescc
whither their mutual resentment may not land them.
Shaikh Khazal on the whole maintained cordial relations with the
Turkish authorities at Basrah during the year; but at one stage of the Nation­
alist crisis, he was a good deal perturbed by the receipt of reports pointing
to an intention on the part of the Turks to violate the frontier from the Bagh­
dad direction. As a Warden of the Marches, his responsibility to the Central
Government in regard to his frontier is a heavy one, and yet the Ministry, if
indeed any existed at the time, paid no attention to his requests for instruc­
tions or advice. Again he had to rely on such general assurances as the
British Government could give him.
The question of the Turco-Persian Frontier, bounding Mohammerah
territory, received the close attention of
Turco-Persian Frontier.
His Majesty’s Government at this time,
and both the general position between Turkey and Persia, and our position
in regard to both, have been considerably cleared by the correspondence
which passed on the subject.
Under present conditions, the spheres of the functions of Consular posts
at Mohammerah and Ahwaz have, to
some extent, overlapped, but when the
permanent incumbent takes over the senior appointment, measures will be
devised for a more effective separation of them.
The following points in Lieutenant Ranking’s present report deserve
note:
(*) the satisfactory improvement in the attitude of the Bakhtiaris
towards the Oil Company;