'Proposed Transfers of Aden and Somali Coast to Imperial Government; and of Persian Legation to India' [‎11r] (13/14)

TRANSFER OF THE PERSIAN LEGATION
TO INDIA.
In 1872, the question was raised by Mr.
East wick, and after being discussed by Sir H.
Rawlinson, and others at the 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. , and
by the Viceroy and bis Council in India, was
made the subject of the following remarks in a
despatch to the Secretary of State for India,
dated 19th January 1872. They are based
upon the note recorded by Lord Mayo, who
was at that time Viceroy:—
“ Ou the subject of the transfer of the Persian
Mission to the control of the Indian Government, we
concur with Sir Henry Rawlinson as to the absolute
necessity of an immediate change in the relations of
the Indian Government with the British Mission
at Tehran. We heartily subscribe to every word he
says as to the good influence which an able and energetic
Anglo-Indian Statesman would exercise over the mind
of the present Sovereign of Persia. The Indian Go
vernment could always supply an Officer well fitted
for the responsible and important duties which he
would have to perform, and seeing (as we do repeatedly)
the enormous influence that a straightforward, courte
ous, able, and accomplished English gentleman can
obtain in very little time over the minds of Asiatic
Rulers, we cannot but believe that the recommendation
which has been repeatedly made by the present Indian
Government would, if carried out, be met with certain
and immediate success. We are not blind to the fact
that Russia does exercise considerable influence at
Persia. The Oriental character of her diplomacy ena
bles her to employ means and influences which probably
are beyond our reach. But we !>elieve this can only
be met, and a counter influence obtained, by the em
ployment of able and experienced agents, men who have
spent their lives in studying Oriental character, and
who will represent their Sovereign more as the Ruler
of Hindoostan than as a European Potentate/*
Almost immediately afterwards (on 19th
April 1872), the Government of India reiter
ated these views in a despatch to the Duke
of Argyll. But three years later they modified
them very considerably, as the following extract
No. 226 of Political A., Sept. flOm their despat 'll
1875, No„ 212-226. No. 163, dated 16til
August 1875, will show :—
“ We are generally of opinion that it would be
inexpedient to disturb the relations that now exist
between the Mission and the Foreign Office. The
officers who represent foreign interests at the Court
of Tehran are members of the regular diplomatic service
of their respective countries, and if a different practice
were followed in the case of the representative of Great
Britain, it is doubtful whether he would not lose in
influence and prestige with the Court to which he is
accredited, and with I is diplomatic colleagues. There
are also few important steps which could be taken with
respect to Persia and the countries adjoining it, which
would not ultimately demand a reference to the Foreign
Office; while the progress of events in Persia and
the evident wish which the Shah has displayed to be
included within the circle of European Powers, afford