'Mesopotamia' [‎17v] (34/152)

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history
[No. 92
pilgrims to Kerbelct and Nejel, the Holy C ities ot tlie
Shiahs. The destruction of Muhammera by the
Turks in 1837. combined with the Persian occupation
of the district of Zohab, brought matters to a crisis,
and a request was made for the mediation of Great
Britain and Russia. Under their auspices a con
ference between Turkish and Persian representatives
was held at Erzerum in 1843; and in 1847 the Treaty
of Erzerum was signed, providing for the determina
tion Of the frontier by a Turko-Persian Commission,
including British and Russian delegates. After many
delays and obstructions, an identic map was submitted
in 1869 to the Ottoman and Persian Governments, re
presenting a zone of country from 20 to 40 miles broad,
within the limits of which it was stated that the boun
dary lay. A special Commission was appointed for
the demarcation of the frontier within this zone, but
their efforts towards a settlement were unsuccessful.
In 1905 the situation became disturbing owing to the
advances by Turkish troops east of the zone in which
the frontier was said to lie. The l urks appeared to
covet all territory occupied by Sunnis, and induced
many tribes in Persian territory to claim Turkish
nationality, with the result that whole districts were in
a state of anarchy. Turkish aggressions continued;
but Great Britain and Russia finally succeeded in se
curing the signature, on November 17, 1913, of a Pro
tocol, to which they, as well as Turkey and Persia, were
parties, laying down the general line of frontier, and
giving specific directions for the settlement of certain
details by a Delimitation Commission. The British
and Russian delegates on this Commission were em
powered not merely to mediate but to arbitrate in cases
of dispute between their Turkish and Persian col
leagues. Tn September 1914 the demarcation of the
frontier by this Commission was completed.
(b) British Influence
The period from 1834-1914 was remarkable for a
great expansion of British interests in Mesopotamia,