‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎9] (26/578)

PERSIA.
9
After the pacification of Europe in 1815, and the removal of those
dangers which had given exaggerated importance to the Persian alliance,
no steps were taken to maintain the influence in Persian counsels which
had been secured to the British Government by the Treaty of Tehran in
1814. On the contrary, much w^as done to dishearten the Shah and
impress him with the belief that the preservation of the integrity of his
Empire was a matter of indifference to England. Not the least distaste
ful part of the change in policy was the transfer, in 1823, of the relations
with Persia to the Government of India, and the substitution of an
envoy of the Governor-General for the plenipotentiary of the Crown.
This change was accepted most reluctantly by the Shah, who considered
it not only derogatory to his dignity, but dangerous to his power. The
conflict between the Crown and the Indian Government regarding the
mission in 1809 had lowered his respect for the latter; and he believed,
moreover, that the operations, which the Indian Government undertook
in 1819 against the pirates in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , would have ended in
aggressions on his government but for the control of the English ministry.
So little care was taken to cultivate relations with Persia after the peace
of Turkmanchai and the abrogation of the subsidy agreement of 1814,
to which the Shah agreed only under the pressure of pecuniary embarrass
ments caused by the payment of the indemnity to Russia, that the in
fluence of the British Government at Tehran declined before that of
Russia. For some years the Shah continued to urge the necessity of
revising the Treaty of 1814 and of substituting for the abrogated articles
a general stipulation of protection, which would at least evidence the
wish of the British Government that the independence of Persia should
be preserved. No steps, however, were taken to meet his expectations;
and when, after long delay, the British Government in 1833 authorised
their representative in Persia to enter on negotiations for a revision of
the treaty, their ascendancy had given place to that of Russia. The
negotiations were protracted till 1837, but led to no result.
Fateh Ali Shah died in 1834. By the influence of Russia and Eng
land, his grandson Muhammad Shah v r as placed on the throne, notwith
standing the opposition of many princes of the blood royal. In the
same year an understanding, subsequently acknowledged to be in force
by interchange of notes in 1838, 1873 and 1874, was arrived at by Great
Britain and Russia, with regard to the maintenance of the integrity and
independence of Persia.
In 1836 Persia found herself unable to repress the Turkman raiders
in the province of Astarabad, who made constant descents by sea on the
Persian shores. By the Treaty of Gulistan (Appendix No. V) she had
renounced all right to have ships of war on the Caspian Sea, and she w-as
compelled to beg for the help of Russian ships to put down the marauders.
Once, however, in possession of the Island of Cherken, whence she could