Abstract: This file contains material relating to the South Persia Rifles, southern Persia [Iran], the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyari] Tribe and the oil fields developed by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). It includes:A table showing the disposition of troops in southern Persia in December 1917The capture of an incriminating letter addressed to Mukhbir Us Sulteneh [Mahdi Quli Khan Hidayat Mukhbir al-Saltanah]The outbreak of clashes between the nomadic tribes of southern Persia and the South Persia RiflesThe call by Soulat [Isma’il Khan Sawlat al-Dawlah Qashqa’i], Ilkhani of the Kashgai [Qashqa'i] Tribe, for a jehad [jihad] against foreign forces in Persia [The Ilkhani being the Paramount Chief of the tribe]The loss of the post at Khaneh Zinian [Khan-i Zaniyan] to the Kashgais led by SoulatThe logistics required for extending the right flank of the Allied forces in Mesopotamia [Iraq] to the Caspian SeaThe reinforcement of the forces under Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes via Bandar Abbas and Bushire [Bushehr]The placement of Sykes under the command of General Charles Monro, Commander-in-Chief, IndiaThe departure of the German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss towards Khaneh ZinianThe general expression of ‘nationalist resentment’ at the presence of British forces in Central PersiaThe offer of the Persian Admiral, Mirza Ahmad Khan Tangistani Daryabegi, to collaborate against SoulatThe declaration by Habib Allah Khan Qavam al-Mulk Shirazi of his support for the Governor of Fars, Abd al-Husayn Mirza Farmanfarma, and his readiness to defend Shiraz against SoulatThe clashes between the Kalantar of Kazerun, Nasir Divan Kazeruni, and British forces outside ShirazAn offer of assistance from the Kalantar of the Kashkuli Tribe, Muhammad ‘Ali Khan KashkuliThe lack of co-operation between the British Minister at Tehran, Charles Marling, and Sir Percy SykesThe placement of all British troops in southern Persia under the command of an officer with the rank of Brigadier-GeneralA joint letter from the khans of Borasjun [Borazjan], Tangistan and Chakutah [Chahkootah] to the Political Resident at Bushire to enquire about the objectives of the recently-arrived British regimentsThe possibility of installing Mirza Hasan Khan Vusugh (Vusugh al-Dawlah) as Prime Minister, following the Italian victory at the Second Battle of Piave River, and the suspension of German operations against FranceThe recommendation of Brigadier-General George Younghusband to surround oilfields with ‘barbed wire fence with electric light standards and ring of sentries like prisoners of war camp’The willingness of the Ilkhani of the Bakhtiyari to ‘maintain order’ in the oilfields of southern PersiaThe siege of Indian Army troops at Abadeh by the Kashgai and the desertion of all South Persia RiflesThe mobilisation of Mirza Kuchak Khan's Jangali Movement to seize control of RashtA quarrel between the German agent, Wassmuss and the Ilkhani of the Kashgai, SoulatThe defection of the Kashgai chiefs ‘Ali Khan Qashqa’i Salar-i Hishmat and Ahmad Khan Qashqa’i Sardar-i IhtishamThe order from Khusraw Khan Bakhtiyari Sardar-i Zafar to Yusuf Khan Bakhtiyari Amir Mujahid to relieve the siege of Abadeh, and prevent Murtaza Quli Khan Samsam from joining the KashgaisThe pursuit by Sardar-i Ihtisham, Muhammad ‘Ali Khan Kashkuli, and Qavam al-Mulk Shirazi of Soulat and his band of followers and the retreat of Nasir Divan Kazeruni to KazerunA request from Soulat to Ayoz Kika [Haj Iyaz Khan Shakiri Qashqa’i] for reinforcementsThe arrest of Baha Us Sultan [Baha’ al-Sultan Shirazi], a leading democrat [i.e. of the Hizb-i Democrat-i Fars]The deployment of Sultan Kazem Khan [Sultan Kazim Khan Shamlu’s] Darrahshuri tribal forces to AbadehThe preference of Vusugh al-Dawlah for Swedish officers to lead the national police in PersiaA rumour about the presence of the German agent Oskar von Niedermeyer in Bakhtiyari CountryThe encirclement, by Soulat, of Sardar-i Ihtisham and the South Persia Rifles at FiruzabadThe relief of Sardar-i Ihtisham and the South Persia Rifles by Colonel Ernest Frederick OrtonThe death of Muhammad ‘Ali Khan Kashkuli at Shiraz on 20 October 1918The handover of the South Persia Rifles by Sir Percy Sykes to Colonel Orton and the former's arrival at DelhiThe refusal by Wassmuss to surrender to British forces, and his rejection of an offer of repatriationThe readiness of the Persian Government to co-operate in the arrest and deportation of WassmussA proposal by Colonel Orton of the South Persia Rifles for the organisation of a national Persian Army.Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 405; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-389.