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'The Middle Eastern question or some political problems of Indian defence' [186v] (377/616)
The record is made up of 1 volume (306 folios ). It was created in 1903. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
298 THE BALANCE OF POWER IN PERSIA
iv -
be applied to a dynasty backed by the material support
of such a power as Russia. On the contrary, there are
abundant indications that some of those who are most
disaffected to the present regime are looking forward to
the day when, the Shah and his ministers having played
out the part for which they are at present cast, Russia
will throw them overboard and assume direct control
over the government of the country. Similar influences
are at work even among the Bakhtiaris and in other
remote parts of the Shah's dominions where his writ
has hitherto seldom run without dispute. Behind the
centralising activity of Teheran the hand of Russia is
felt to be pressing heavily, and her hand may be pro
pitiated but cannot be resisted.
In a word, Russia is reaping to-day the results of
a carefully thought-out, consistent, and persevering
policy, carried out by a staff of highly trained officials,
specially equipped with a thorough knowledge of the
language, the customs, and the people of the country.
It may be asked why, if Persia is already so completely
in her grip, she prefers not to enter into actual posses
sion. The answer is an easy one to those who have
followed Russian policy in other parts of the East.
Russia prefers a feeble and bankrupt Oriental neigh
bour to an annexed dependency. She has learnt the
secret of ruling an Eastern state through its nominal
owners, if only they are weak, corrupt, and in her pay.
It is a device which can be combined with all the ex
ternal forms of respect for existing treaties ; it does not
conflict with the technical maintenance of the status quo;
it spares the susceptibilities of other powers ; it mini
mises the danger of international complications; it
gives a maximum of power with a minimum of respon
sibility.
About this item
- Content
The volume, written by Valentine Chirol and printed in London by John Murray in 1903, is based on a series of letters written by Chirol during a journey through Persia and the Persian Guf, that appeared in The Times in 1902 and 1903.
The main topics are: the concept of 'Middle East'; the Baghdad Railway; the British role in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the Russian influence over Persia; the border of Afghanistan; the North-East Frontier of India, and Tibet. An appendix at the back of the volume contains copies of international treaties, and documents in French on the Baghdad Railway.
The volume contains numerous illustrations and three maps:
- 'Sketch Map of the Borderlands of India';
- 'Sketch Map of Asia showing railway expansion';
- 'Sketch map of Persia and adjoining countries'.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (306 folios )
- Physical characteristics
The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'The Middle Eastern question or some political problems of Indian defence' [186v] (377/616), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/G43, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023644753.0x0000b2> [accessed 12 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/G43
- Title
- 'The Middle Eastern question or some political problems of Indian defence'
- Pages
- 2r:305v
- Author
- Chirol, Sir (Mary) Ignatius Valentine
- Usage terms
- Public Domain