المجموعة ٨٦/٣٠(٣) "بلاد فارس. العلاقات مع العراق: شط العرب. إنشاء مجلس دولي لتنظيم الملاحة". [و‎‎١‎٦] (٦٧٤/٣٨)

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^•ide Memo ire.
A
His Majesty’s G-overnment have lately been considering
the question of navigation in the Shatt el Arab with particular
reference to their vital tanker traffic to and from Abadan.
This traffic is of the greatest importance to the Pjprosecution
of the Par Pastern war. It is already extremely heavy and
will grow heavier, not only while the operations in the Par East
endure, but subsequently as well. Although His Majesty’s
Government are in no way dissatisfied with the results achieved
by the present administration of the Shatt, they feel that for
the future a more effective provision should be made for the
conservancy and for the free and safe navigation of the Shatt
from a point belov/ Basra to the southern and of the Hooka
channel and the Persian waters off Abadan.
2. It will be remembered that before the war negotiations
were undertaken for the conclusion of a Tripartite convention
for the control of the Shatt, to which ^raq, Persia and Great
Britain were to be the parties. These negotiations had led to
no concrete result when on the outbreak of war, it was
decided to abandon them. His Majesty’s Government are now
considering the ^possibility of reopening negotiations for an
agreement safeguarding on a long-term basis and under expert
technical direction and control, the strategic and commercial
interests of the three Powers in the conservancy and
navigation of the waterway.
3. In theprevious negotiations, the attitude of the then
Persian Government was unhappily a stumbling block. It is
hoped that, in view of the changed circumstances, the Persian
Government will now adopt a more cooperative line. In the
light, however, of the objections which they raised previously
it is felt that the first approach should be made to them.
His Majesty’s Ambassador in Tehran will act accordingly in
due course.
4. If the Persian Government show themselves ready to
enter into negotiations for a Triparite convention, it is
hoped that the Iraqi Government will also be prepared to
negotiate on the basis proposed. It is not suggested that
any negotitations should be undertaken between the Iraqi
Government and His Majesty’s Government until the views of the
Persian Government are known. His Majesty’s Government
have, however, desired to inform the Iraqi Government of
their intentions, holding that, since the navigation of the
Shatt is a matter of import both to Iraq and to Britain
it should be the subject of the free and frank consultation
envisaged in Article 1 of the ^nglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance.