cunningly. The British force at Shiraz was 2,200 strong, one- third being recruits. The S. Persia Rifles slightly outnumbered the Indian troops and, owing to propaganda and the proclaimed hostility of the Persian Government, were a danger to the Brit- ish. The detachments in the outposts mutinied and surrendered or deserted. Qawam had collected 2,000 Arabs in and about Shi- raz, who were ready to attack the beaten side. On May 24, the day after the return of the column, it marched out under Col. E. F. Orton, 1,600 strong, and attacked the Kashgais in the hilly country to the W. of the city. The resistance of the enemy was obstinate, but the Indian troops gradually moved forward, de- feating rush after rush and, after 14 hours' fighting, occupied Solah's camp on the bank of the Qara Aghach river. The Kash- gais fled headlong at the end of the action, in which they had suf- fered some 700 casualties, as against 51 in the British column. About ten days later the enemy returned in still larger numbers, and the Kazerunis occupied the garden quarter, which almost touched the fortified perimeter constructed by the British out- side Shiraz. In June, the investment became closer, as the Brit- ish withdrew an outpost which was dangerously isolated. The inhabitants of Shiraz were incited against the British by the mullas, some of whom preached jihad or Holy War. Sir Percy Sykes learned that the Kashgais were preparing to unite with the townspeople in a combined attack on June 17, and he deter- mined to forestall them. Accordingly, on June 16, the column sallied out for 4 m. and then slowly retired drawing the Kashgais down on to the plain where they offered good targets to the guns. The column then returned to Shiraz. On the following day, Shi- raz rose, its inhabitants attacking everyone suspected of being friendly to the British. But the Kashgais, whose losses had again been heavy, did not come to the support of the townspeople, who were overawed by the seizure at midnight of various key-positions by the British. The tide then turned. The governor-general ap- pointed a new Ilkhani or " paramount chief " in place of Solah, whose followers began to break away, influenced by the heavy losses they had suffered. Qawam declared in favour of the new Ilkhani, and his example was followed by a brother of Solah who was followed by perhaps one-quarter of the tribe. The column marched out again, and Solah fled a broken man, pursued by Qa- wam, the new Ilkhani, and most of the Kashgai tribe.
The Siege and Relief of Abadch. Meanwhile the S. Persia Rifles at Abadeh, a town situated between Shiraz and Isfahan, had mutinied. The British officers took refuge with a company of i6th Rajputs, who held the small fort against overwhelming numbers. Within 36 hours of the final defeat of Solah, the victo- rious column marched northwards and, after a forced march of 1 80 m. in 169 hours, relieved Abadeh.
The Final Defeat of the Kashgais, Oct. 1918. The new Ilkhani had no easy task in establishing his position and was besieged in his fort by the fickle tribesmen, who changed sides whenever it appeared to be to their interest to do so. The column rapidly marched S. and gave the Kashgais a final overthrow, the Burma Mounted Rifles counting 103 corpses. Solah fled weeping, and has been a refugee ever since. The night after this final success, both victors and vanquished were prostrated by the deadly in- fluenza epidemic. The losses were appalling, 18% of the Shiraz force dying. The inhabitants of the city lost even more heavily. Indeed, the country generally suffered terribly, the scourge carry- ing off the young and able-bodied and sparing the old.
The Opening of the Bushire-Shiraz Route. When Sir Percy Sykes was invested at Shiraz, the small force of Indian troops at Bushire was strengthened and arrangements were made for organizing a base with a view to an advance in October. In the autumn, influ- enza broke out, but the type was fortunately mild, the losses being only 2 %. The force engaged in opening up the road included no fewer than 20,000 fighting men and followers and, as there was no fear of serious opposition after the final defeat of Solah, the operation was mainly one of constructing a good camel track up the infamous passes and of feeding the force. A railway was laid to Borazjan, 37 m. distant, across the level plain and thence carts plied to the foot of the passes. Kazerun was finally reached on Jan. 27 1919, the Shiraz column cooperating by marching over the passes to within a few miles of that town. The beneficent activity of the British was continued, and, when the troops withdrew in the spring of 1919, a good track, over which a car could run, albeit with great difficulty in
a few places, had been constructed from Bushire to Shiraz. Unfortu- nately this route will require constant repair to keep it in good order, and it is unlikely that the Persian Government will do this. The result of these operations was entirely beneficent to the Persian Government. The Kashgais, who had had each successive governor- general at their mercy, were cowed and dispirited and it would have been easy to control S. Persia. But the Persian Government, as at present constituted, cannot maintain law and order.
Persian Delegation to the Peace Conference. In 1919, a Persian delegation reached Paris in order to lay its claims before the Peace Conference. These claims were divided into three parts, dealing respectively: (a) with political, juridical and economic independence; (b) with right to territorial restorations; and (c) with right to reparations. Heading part (a) was the Anglo-Rus- sian agreement of 1907, the abrogation of which was rightly de- manded and was conceded so far as concerned Great Britain. Other demands, such as the abolition of consular courts and the withdrawal of consular guards, are entirely out of the question until Persia sets her own house in order and can guarantee order, security, and a pure administration. The territorial claims were extravagant, including Transcaspia, Merv and Khiva to the E., the Caucasus as far N. as Derbent and, westwards, Kurdistan, Diarbekr and Mosul. The claims for reparation stood on a differ- ent footing, as the W. and N.W. provinces of Persia undoubtedly suffered terribly from the ebb and flow of the contending armies, the retreat of the demoralized Russians and the flight of the As- syrian Christians. It is to be regretted that the delegation could not be permitted to lay its case before the Peace Conference, even though its claims were extravagant. Actually the Cabinet, which had despatched the delegation, fell and a representative of the new Cabinet laid the case of Persia before the Supreme Council.
The Anglo- Persian Agreement 1919. In the summer, after negotiations extending over a period of nine months, two Agree- ments were signed at Teheran, the first of which was as follows:
PREAMBLE: In virtue of the close ties of friendship which have existed between the two Governments in the past, and in the con- viction that it is in the essential and mutual interests of both in future that these ties should be cemented, and that the progress and prosperity of Persia should be promoted to the utmost, it is hereby agreed between the Persian Government on the one hand, and His Britannic Majesty's Minister acting on behalf of his Government on the other, as follows:
I. The British Government reiterate, in the most categorical manner, the undertakings which they have repeatedly given in the past to respect absolutely the independence and integrity of Persia.
2. The British Government will supply, at the cost of the Persian Government, the services of whatever expert advisers may, after consultation between the two Governments, be considered neces- sary for the several departments of the Persian Administration. These advisers shall be engaged on contracts and endowed with adequate powers, the nature of which shall be the matter of agree- ment between the Persian Government and the advisers.
3. The British Government will supply, at the cost of the Persian Government, such officers and such munitions and equipment of modern type- as may be adjudged necessary by a joint commission of military experts, British and Persian, which shall assemble forth- with for the purpose of estimating the needs of Persia in respect of the formation of a uniform force which the Persian Government proposes to create for the establishment and preservation of order in the country and on its frontiers.
4. For the purpose of financing the reforms indicated in clauses 2 and 3 of this agreement, the British Government offer to provide or arrange a substantial loan for the Persian Government, for which adequate security shall be sought by the two Governments in con- sultation in the revenues of the Customs or other sources of income at the disposal of the Persian Government. Pending the completion of negotiations for such a loan the British Government will supply such funds as may be necessary for initiating the said reforms.
5. The British Government, fully recognizing the urgent need which exists for the improvement of communications in Persiai with a view both to the extension of trade and the prevention of famine, are prepared to cooperate with the Persian Government for the encouragement of Anglo-Persian enterprise in this direction, both by means of railway construction and other forms of transport; subject always to the examination of the problems by experts and to agreement between the two Governments as to the particular projects which may be most necessary, practicable and profitable.
6. The two Governments agree to the appointment forthwith of a joint Committee of experts for the examination and revision of the existing Customs Tariff with a view to its reconstruction on a basis calculated to accord with the legitimate interests of the country and to promote its prosperity.
Signed at Teheran, August 9, 1919.
