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25. ‘16/12 Miscellaneous. Officer Commanding Troops – 3/16thPunjab Regiment. Correspondence with the –’
- Description:
- Abstract: Correspondence, financial statements and other papers relating to expenses incurred by the despatch to Bahrain between September 1926 to February 1927, of the 3 Battalion of the 16 (3/16) Punjab Regiment, in response to civil unrest in Manama during 1926. The principal correspondents are: the Political Agent in Bahrain (Major Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett); the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave); the Controller (or Deputy Assistant Controller) of Military Accounts for the Southern Command & Poona and Bombay District.The first part of the file comprises correspondence relating to proposals for the payment and preparation of accounts for the detachment of the 3/16 Punjab Regiment to Bahrain (multiple copies, ff 4-5, ff 15-16, ff 32-33), and enquiries from the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain as to whether the State of Bahrain will bear all expenses associated with the presence of the 3/16Punjab Regiment in Bahrain; a question answered in the affirmative by the Political Agent (f 9, f 13).The second part of the file comprises letters (some with financial statements) from the Controller of Military Accounts for the Southern Command & Poona and Bombay District, to the Political Agent at Bahrain, requesting payment of various costs incurred by the 3/16 Punjab Regiment’s presence in Bahrain. These requests were forwarded by the Political Agent to the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain. All amounts are given to Indian rupees, annas and pies:pay and allowances for the 3/16th Punjab Regiment, from September 1926 to February 1927 (f 36, f 41, f 70, f 94);expenditure on local purchases and other miscellaneous charges (ff 44-47);cost of rations consumed by the regiment during its stay in Bahrain, with copies of ration returns (ff 52-61);a mileage allowance payable to Lieutenant R C Robinson, Commandant of the 3/16th Punjab Regiment (f 66);pensions contributions for officers and men of the regiment (f 76);shipping costs associated with the passage of the regiment from Bombay to Bahrain in September and 1926, and its return in February 1927 (f 82, f 87).The file also includes proposals for the supply of ice for the regiment in Bahrain (ff 19-21), and a letter (in Arabic and English) from Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah to the Political Agent, dated 18 Sha‘bān 1345 (equivalent to 21 February 1927), expressing his satisfaction at the way in which the 3/16Punjab Regiment carried out their duties while in Bahrain.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 110; 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 also present in parallel between ff 4-109; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
33. War Cabinet Papers Relating to Syria and the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916
- Description:
- Abstract: The file chiefly comprises correspondence, memoranda, and newspaper cuttings relating to the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 and British policy in former Ottoman territories following the end of the First World War. Many of the papers were printed and prepared for the War Cabinet (from March 1918, the Eastern Committee of the War Cabinet) and date from May 1915 to September 1919.The papers cover several matters, including:Negotiations leading up to the Sykes-Picot Agreement (ratified in May 1916) and concerning the future government of Syria (including Lebanon), Palestine, Mesopotamia [Iraq], and Asiatic Turkey, and the securing of British and French 'rights' in the regionOther wartime agreements involving Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Roumania [Romania]Revision of the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1918 following subsequent developments during the War, in particular the 'Arab Revolt' [uprising of Arab nationalists against the Ottoman Empire] and the conquest of Palestine and Syria by British and Arab forcesThe discussion of an Anglo-French declaration to be made to try and appease the inhabitants of the regionThe British Government's response to a memorial issued by seven Arab leaders resident in Egypt regarding their desires for self-determination in the region, particularly SyriaA statement made by Feisal [Fayṣal bin Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] to the Chief of General Staff, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 31 August 1919, regarding recent events in the region, promises made to the Arabs during the War, and Arab determination to achieve independence.The correspondence is principally between diplomats and politicians of the British, French, Russian and Italian governments, and officials at the Foreign Office and War Office.Folios 70-84 consist of related manuscript notes by Lord Curzon.The French language material consists of correspondence from French diplomats and politicians.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 85; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
34. Persian Affairs
- Description:
- Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 16 of 1844, dated 18 February 1844. The enclosures are dated 15 December 1843-12 January 1844.The enclosures comprise copies of despatches addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Chargé d’Affaires at Tehran, to the Earl of Aberdeen [George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen], Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, (being copies of Sheil’s despatches to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, and the Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General), with related enclosures which notably include letters from: Sheil; Meerza Abul Hassan Khan [Mīrzā Abū al-Ḥasan Khān Shīrāzī, Īlchī Kabīr], Persian [Iranian] Foreign Minister; Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Farrant in Bagdad [Baghdad]; Captain Samuel Hennell, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; and Keith Edward Abbott, British representative at Tabreez [Tabriz].The subjects covered notably include:British and Russian efforts to avert a war between Persia and Ottoman Turkey following the capture of Kerbela [Karbala] in January 1843 by Turkish forces under Nejib Pacha [Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] resulting in the deaths of 5000 Persians, including extract of a letter from Count Nesselrode [Karl Robert Nesselrode], Russian Foreign Minister, to Count Medem [Aleksandr Ivanovich Medem], Russian Minister Plenipotentiary at Tehran (ff 6-8)Rivalry between the Khan of Khiva and Khan of Bokhara [Bukhara] and their agents in Tehran, and the attempts by the Persian Government to obtain the release of captives at Khiva and BokharaSheil’s desire to find out news of Colonel Charles Stoddart and Captain Arthur Conolly and to confirm the veracity of conflicting accounts of their purported captivity or death at Bokhara, including copy of an account by a resident of Herat who has come to Tehran (ff 23-30), and a letter from the Shah of Persia to the Ameer [Amir] of Bokhara requiring Stoddart and Conolly to be surrendered if they are alive (ff 80-83)The Shah’s concern about Russian encroachment and expanding influence on the Toorkoman [Turkoman] coast (eastern shores of the Caspian Sea), notably over tribes inhabiting the mouth of the Atrek River in the region of Asterabad [Gorgan, formerly Astarabad]Sheil’s concern about the growing influence of Count Medem over the Persian Prime Minister Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Ḥājjī Mīrzā Āqāsī, Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam], following the ‘Instructions’ (ff 87-92) issued to the Governor of Asterabad by the Prime Minister with the cognizanceof Medem, which Sheil considers may: establish Russian authority over the Toorkemans [Turkomans] of the Atrek and adjacent coast; establish the right of the Russian squadron to punish all Toorkemans committing ‘piracy’; and lead to a Russian military take-over of the areaAgreement (ff 33-38) concluded by Count Medem with the Persian Prime Minister to facilitate the recovery of pecuniary claims of Russian subjects from subjects of Persia and for preventing fraudulent bankruptcy declarations by Persian subjects, and the possible implications for British subjectsReport by Abbott of his intelligence gathering visit to the Caspian Sea at Astara, detailing Persian and Russian influence in the vicinity (ff 95-97)Sheil’s correspondence notably with Meerza Abul Hassan Khan, Persian Foreign Minister, on various matters relating to Bushire [Bushehr] and the Gulf Residency, notably whether British goods bound for another (foreign) destination which stop at Bushire for transshipment of cargo should be liable to a landing duty, and the Foreign Minister’s complaint about the person in charge of the coal depository maintained by the British at the island of Karrak [Kharg]The question of the right of natives of Sinde [Sindh] and Shikarpour [Shikarpur] to British protection, in light of the case of Hindoo [Hindu] merchant Khajeh ‘Tilla’ (a British subject) being forcibly brought to Tehran on the Persian Prime Minister’s orders to answer a claim made on him by a Russian subject.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-4, on folio 1. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
35. Persian Affairs
- Description:
- Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 25 of 1844, dated 25 March 1844. The enclosures are dated 20 February 1844.The enclosures chiefly comprise despatches from Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Chargé d’Affaires at Tehran, to the Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General, enclosing copies of his despatches to the Earl of Aberdeen [George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen] Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with their respective enclosures notably letters from Sheil to E W Bonham, HM Consul at Tabreez [Tabriz], Lieutenant-Colonel Williams at Erzeroom [Erzurum], and Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Farrant, agent in Bagdad [Baghdad] for HM Ambassador in Constantinople [Istanbul].A wide variety of subjects are covered, notably including:Matters relating to the Persian Gulf, including: Persian [Iranian] plans to build fortifications at Bushire [Bushehr] (as well as Asterabad [Gorgan, formerly Astarabad] and Mazanderan [Mazandaran]); Persian objections to the British coaling station on the island of Karrack [Kharg] on the basis that Russia could use it as a pretext for establishing a fuelling station on one of the islands near Asterabad; and the arrival at Bushire of Sheikh Abdoollah [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], the former Chief of Bahrein [Bahrain], requesting assistance from the Resident and from the Governor of Sheeraz [Shiraz] to help restore him to possession of the islandThe conflicting claims of Persia and Ottoman Turkey with regard to possession of Mohemmera [Khorramshahr], particularly the tribe of Chaab [Banū Ka‘b tribe?] and the revenue of Fellaheea [Fellahiah] in Chaab territory. Includes reference to the memorandum by Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, on the background to the dispute (a copy of the memorandum is in IOR/L/PS/5/428 ff 437-487)Concerns of Sheil and the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meerza Abool Hassan Khan [Mīrzā Abū al-Ḥasan Khān Shīrāzī, Īlchī Kabīr] concerning the increase of ‘aggressive’ Russian influence over the Shah and the Persian Government, notably: the local Russian Consul by-passing the authority of the Governor of Resht, province of Geelan [Rasht, Gilan]; Russian intimidatory activities in Asterabad and on the Toorkoman [Turkoman] coasts; and continued pressure by Count Medem [Aleksandr Ivanovich Medem], Russian Minister Plenipotentiary at Tehran, on the Shah and Persian Prime Minister Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Ḥājjī Mīrzā Āqāsī, Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam] for the abrogation of Article 14 of the Treaty between Russia and PersiaProgress of the negotiations between Persia and Turkey at Erzeroom [Erzurum], mediated by Britain and Russia, regarding frontier disputes, notably: arbitration of tribal incursions; arrangements for the return of plundered property; ineffectualness of the Turkish and Persian plenipotentiaries (representatives) at Erzeroom; Persian claims against Turkey over the capture of Kerbela [Karbala] and demands for the dismissal of the Governor of Bagdad [Baghdad]; rumours that Turkey is amassing a military force near Erzeroom and Persian response in kind; arguments over territorial rights in Sooleimanieh [Sulaymaniyah], Van, Kars, and Akhilska [Akhaltsikhe?]; and attempts by the Persian Prime Minister to make the Persian plenipotentiary at Erzeroom tone down his territorial demands and to confer with the British and Russian commissioners. Includes translations of letters from the Persian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the Shah (ff 405-416)Information conveyed to Sheil by HM Consul General at Tabreez, regarding the conflict in Daghistan [Dagestan] between Russian and Lesgee [Lezgian, also spelled Lezgee in this item] forces (Persia had ceded Daghistan to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Gulistan 1813 but was pro-Lesgee), notably: rumours of severe losses on both sides; the Lesgee attack on Russian forces at Avran [Yerevan?], capture of the Governor of Georgia and besieging of Derband [Derbent]; rumours of Russian plans to send 40,000 troops under the command of General Yermaloff [Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov], to the Caucasus to invade Daghistan as soon as weather permits; and Persia’s desire to drive Russia out of Georgia.Physical description: The enclosure numbers 3-4 are written on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure, which also contain an abstract of the contents of the enclosure.
36. Political Situation in Persia, the North-West Frontier, Afghanistan, and Aden
- Description:
- Abstract: The memorandum is divided up into four sections and a conclusion. The first (folios 125-130) provides an update on the political situation in Persia, and considers how advantageous/disadvantageous it is to British interests, with specific updates on the following places: Isfanhan [Eşfahān], Fars, Bushire, Kerman, Baluchistan, Seistan [Sīstān va Balūchestān], and Meshed [Mashhad]. There is a running — British — concern over the expansion of German influence, and the operation of German supported 'bands' in Persia; a list of causes is provided on folios 129-130.The second section (folios 131-132) provides an update on the North-West Frontier of India, and the third section (folios 133-134) provides an update on Afghanistan. The latter considers the loyalty — to the British — of the Amir of Afghanistan and the influence of a German party in the country. Three copies of telegrams from the Viceroy of India on the subject of the Amir can be found on folio 135.The fourth section (folios 139-140), on the other hand, is a brief update on the situation of the British garrison at Aden, and considers the necessity (for British military interests) in 'separating the Arabs from the Turks'.The conclusion (folios 136-138) provides suggestions as to the measures that may be taken to improve Britain's geopolitical position in Persia, and mitigate future threats to British India.The author is Sir Arthur Hirtzel, Political Department, India Office.Physical description: Condition: the ink on folios 125-127 has faded.Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 125, and terminates at f 140, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: each section of the item also has a typed pagination sequence; these numbers are located in the top centre of the recto side of each folio.