Page 156 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

10 IERSIAH GULP ADlUKiSTEATION EErORT
In short, tlie Residency records of tli o ycat havo been searched in
for tho smallest indication of any reparation that has been made for thi*
of a gallant and distinguished British Officer. Uc*th
In January His Majesty's Consul, Shiraz, urged the withdrawal of
Withdrawal of tho Contra! India Horeo »nd Central India Horse in tho early ^
Rajput dotuchmont from Sblur. on the ground that they were
useless for tho escort of caravans on such a road as that from Bush* ^
Shiraz which was the object with-which they had originally been dcspatV0
and that, while no blame whatever would be attached to the officers and ^
whoso conduct, under most trying circumstances, had been beyond iw °
throughout, their prcsonce at Shiraz had led to a number of minor incido ?
culminating in the death of Captain Eckford. nts
His Majesty’s Minister eventually decided that the question of xvitji
drawal was one in which political considerations were far outweighed by milit-
ones and advised that the Officer Commanding the Regiment should suWt
the proposal for the opinion of the Military authorities of the Government
of India.
The proposal to withdraw the regiment was approved. Warnings by the
Governor-General of Pars and the Governor of the Gulf Ports were addressed
simultaneously to the headmen on the Bashire-Shiraz road They explained
that there could be no doubt of the policy of forebearanco and friendliness
followed by the British Government towards Persia in spite of several attacks
on British subjects and the losses suffered by their traders from robberies and
illegal exactions ; and they pointed to the decision to withdraw the British
troops at Shiraz as a signal illustration of British friendship.
A question arose at the same time if whether the infantry detachment
sent up in 1911 should he withdrawn with the cavalry ; it was finally decided
that it should be withdrawn aud would not be relieved.
Final orders on the subject issued from the Foreign Office on 7th March,
and Colonel Douglas decided to move iii the first week in April. They
eventually left Shiraz on the 5th and arrived at Bushire on the lGth April
without incident. The headmen on the road proved friendly and Colonel
Douglas informed the Resident that the regiment was shown every civility
and attention by the headmen of Daliki, Borasjun and Alunadi. On the same
day Sir E. Grey asked His Majesty’s Minister to instruct Sir P. Cox to ‘-ex­
press to Colonel Douglas and the regiment under his command “ my sincere
congratulations on the termination of their most arduous duty. I much
appreciate the tact and self-restraint shown by the regiment in trying cir­
cumstances during 13 months in Persia.”
In the end of January, the Kawam-ul-Mulk visited His Majesty’s Consul,
Shiraz, and pointed out that the Governor-
Expedition, of the Kawajn-ul-Mulk. General’s new force was making dow
progr ess and that the spring season, when
the tribes would again be on the move, was drawing near and that it \&s
essential to make an example of at least one section from each tribe, eg >
Baharlus from among the Khamseh and the Kashkulis from among the
Xashgais.
Asked how he proposed to effect this chastisement, the Kawam-ul-3lulk
replied that, if he were given 30,000 tomans and 100,000 cartridges, he wouw
undertake to chastise the Baharlus.
The Consul deprecated the idea of the Kawam-ul-Mulk being again
public money to pla;y, with but he and the Governor-General agreed t-ba*
would be to the public advantage if the Kawam-ul-Mulk could leave Shi
in some way or other.
HissMajesty’s Minister, in commenting on the above, agreed that it
be most unwise to entrust the Kawam with public money in order to f*.
ljim to advertise—what was probably the fact—that he was more powerful
F&rs than tbe Governor-General himself, and expressed a hope* that ho
be able to induce the Central authorities at Tehran to obtain a Governors
for him or, failing that, to try and get him. to Europe.