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The record is made up of 1 file (78 folios). It was created in 1 Dec 1879. It was written in English. 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.
* Note .—For full text of Treaty, see
Aitchison, Vol. vi., Appendix II.
The ceded territory included Georgia,
Immeretia, Mingrelia, Derbend, Baku, and
all Persian Daghestan, Sherwan, Sheki,
Ganga, Karabagh, and points of Moghan and
Talisk. This treaty stipulated that “ Russian
“ merchants, having entered Persia with mer-
“ chandize, will have permission to convey it
“ to any country in alliance with that State,
“ and the Persian Government will readily
“ furnish them a passport to enable them to
“ do so.”
t Note .—By this treaty, the Czar reserved
to Russia, as formerly, “ the right of appoint-
u ing Consuls or Commercial Agents wherever
u the good of commerce may require,” and
stipulated that “ Russian subjects, provided
“ with passports in due form, shall be allowed
“ to trade throughout the whole extent of
44 the kingdom of Persia, and also to proceed
“ to the States adjoining the said kingdom.”
(See Aitchison’s Treaties, Vol. vi., Appendix
II.)
In writing in 1836 on the effect of existing
engagements on the interests and security of
the British Empire in India, and the possible
extension of the Persian monarchy in the
direction of Afghanistan, Mr. Ellis, British
Minister at Teheran, wrote to Lord Palmers
ton (7th January 1836), “The success of
“ the Shah in the undertaking (conquest of
“ Herat) is anxiously wished for by Russia.
“ The motive cannot be mistaken. Herat,
“ once annexed to Persia, may become, ac-
“ cording to the Commercial Treaty, the
“ residence of a Russian Consular Agent,
“ who would from thence push his researches
“ and communications, avowed and secret,
“ throughout Afghanistan.” — (Correspon
dence, Persia and Afghanistan, 1836, p. 8.)
The conclusion of the treaty was fol
lowed by the deputation of M. Grebaidoff
from St. Petersburg to Teheran as special
Envoy. Following certain local disputes,
the Persian mob attacked the Russian Mis
sion (1829). A fatal shot was fired, and a
citizen of Teheran killed. The Cossack
guard fired upon the rabble ; the populace
then swarmed to the top of the house, broke
down the roof, drove the Russians into
the courtyard, and soon despatched them
with daggers. The Governor of Teheran
endeavoured to quell the disturbance, but was
set at defiance by the mob, and compelled to
seek refuge in the citadel. Thirty-five
Russians were massacred, the only person
who escaped being M. Malzoff, Secretary to
the Mission. It is remarkable that, although
the mob carried away the horses belonging to
the Russians .which happened to be in the
stables of the British Mission, all British
property was rigidlv respected.—(Wheelers
Memo., 1876, p. 60.) As the Persian
Government was not concerned in this affray,
the Emperor Nicholas was satisfied that the
persons mainly concerned in the murder
should be punished, and a new Ambassador
was deputed to Teheran.
^ Aitchison, Vol. vi., p. 361.
in the Treaty of Gulistan* (1813), by which Persia
placed herself for the first time at the mercy of
Ilussia, by ceding to that power all the provinces
which the Czar had up to that time acquired, and
by engaging at the same time to maintain no navy
on the Caspian.
The progress of diplomatic relations between
Persia, Russia, and Great Britain, from the con
clusion of the Treaty of Gulistan to the renewal of
the war between Persia and Russia in 1825, were of
little practical importance. Both an English and
Russian Minister resided at Teheran, and one of the
main objects of their presence was to settle the
Russo-Persian boundary, as laid down by the Treaty
of Gulistan. Russia kept this question designedly
open, and at length, in 1825, framed an excuse to
take possession of the little territory of Gokcheh.
This, added to a religious frenzy against Russia
which suddenly seized the Persian populations,
obliged Eutteh Ali Shah to launch into a war with
his formidable rival, in which the Persians dis
covered that they were utterly unable to contend
against her. Disaster followed disaster, ending in
the Treaty of Turkomanchai (23rd February 1828),f
by which the existing frontier of Persia was laid
down. The Shah, in fact, had not only to cede the
provinces of Erivan and Nukshivan, in addition to
all his other cessions, but to pay an indemnity of
five millions of
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
, or more than 2,000,000?.
sterlins:.
On the conclusion of the negotiations, opportu
nity was taken by the British Envoy, much to the
chagrin of the Shah, to purchase the abrogation of
the 3rd and 4th Articles of the Treaty of 1814, by
which England was bound (l) to take part m the
delimitation of the boundaries between Russia and
Persia, and (2) to furnish Persia, in case of the in
vasion of that country by a European Power,
with officers, ammunition, and warlike stores, or
in lieu thereof, to pay her an annual subsidy of
200,000
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
, or about 80,000/. These stipula
tions were deemed to he onerous and inconvenient,
and the abrogation was effected by a payment of
one year’s subsidy. Alter the pacification of
Europe in 1815, and the removal of those dangers
which had given such exaggerated importance in
English counsels to the Persian alliance, no steps
were taken to maintain that influence in Persian
counsels which had been secured to England by the
Treaty of 1814. On the contrary, much was donej
to dishearten the Shah, and to impress him with
the belief that the integrity of his empire was a
matter of indifference to England. The transfer of
the relations of Persia from the Imperial Govern
ment to that of India, with which Futteh Ali Shah
was not on erood terms, in addition to the non
success of his efforts to induce the British Govern
ment to substitute for the abrogated Articles of the
Treaty of 1814 a general stipulation of protection
which would at least evidence the wish of that
3338. E
About this item
- Content
The memorandum is divided into the following chapter headings:
- 'General Status of Persia', ff 2r-12;
- 'Persia and Herat', ff 12v-24r;
- 'Persia and Seistan [Sīstān]', ff 24r-31v;
- 'Persia and Kohuk', ff 31v-35;
- 'Persia and the Navigation of the Karun [Kārūn] River', ff 35v-39r;
- 'Persia and her integrity', ff 39r-47;
- 'Persia and Merv', ff 47v-52v;
- 'Continuation of General Status of Persia', ff 52v-61;
- 'Appendices', ff 63-78.
'General Status of Persia' provides a geographic description of the Kingdom including details of its boundaries, rivers, and transportation links. It also includes an outline of its demography, and its revenue by province. Military matters are also covered in this section; this includes an in-depth look at the Persian army — its pay and composition — and a look at the employment of British officers in Persia. This section concludes with a narrative of Persia's modern history from the sixteenth century.
'Persia and Herat' describes the extent to which the province's boundaries can be defined, and provides a brief description of each district within; Ghorian, Sabzawar, Farah, Bakwa, Kurak, and Obeh. It also includes a description of the town of Herat, and information on the province's demography and climate. The section also provides detailed coverage of the tribes in the region. The development of British policy towards Herat is explained through the use of select correspondence. This includes the relative merits for Britain in either maintaining Herat's independence, or supporting Afghan or Persian rule; extensive reference is made to the Treaty of Paris (1857).
'Persia and Seistan' also provides a geographic description of the province, along with information on its administrative divisions, climate, and transportation links. Its main purpose however is to outline the development of British attitudes concerning the governance of this province; should it be overseen by Afghanistan or Persia? To provide context, it covers the historical basis for the two competing claims. It concludes by describing the British arbitration of the matter in 1871-72 by General Frederick John Goldsmid, and its outcome; summaries of the statements provided by the Afghan and Persian sides are included.
'Persia and Kohuk' explains how Persia has disputed the award of this province to Khelat by General Goldsmid in 1871, and British reluctance to amend the award in favour of Persia.
'Persia and the Navigation of the Karun River' outlines British efforts to open up the Karun River for steam navigation. It explains that Russian success in improving transportation infrastructure in the north of Persia — in contrast to British failure in the south — is seen to be putting British trade at a disadvantage; the Karun River is seen as having the best potential for resolving this. The prospects for the construction of a railway in southern Persia are also briefly examined.
'Persia and her integrity' details the development of a diplomatic understanding from 1834 between Britain and Russia, in which both powers established their mutual interest in the maintenance of the territorial integrity of Persia. It chiefly concerns British suspicions that Russian activities in central Asia do not match their professed intentions towards Persia (i.e. British fears that Russia is encroaching on central Asia).
'Persia and Merv', in addition to providing an overview of the region's history and ancient settlements, considers what the British consider to be the encroachment of Russia on Persia's northern borders; the British consider any potential Russian occupation of Merv to be a threat, and it is explained that Persian control is preferred.
'Continuation of General Status of Persia' concentrates on British concerns over increases in Russian influence at the Persian Court in Tehran; the British fear Persia becoming a vassal of Russia and facilitating Russian expansion towards Afghanistan. It therefore discusses the extent to which Britain should take advantage of Persian overtures to establish friendly relations with that power in order to prevent this scenario. It also briefly discusses Persian designs on Bahrain, and the desirability — for Britain — in maintaining its status as an independent state, in addition to emphasizing the need to maintain Britain's protectorate role in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Topics also included in this section, but covered in less detail include: the conference of consular powers on the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the development of telegraph lines in Persia; and negotiations respecting the demarcation of the Persian-Turkish border.
The memorandum is signed by Owen Tudor Burne of 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. .
The appendix at the back is divided eight sections as follows:
- I. 'Employment of British Officers with the Persian Army', f 63;
- II. A selection of memoranda (dated 20 July-24 December 1868) concerning the need to strengthen British influence over Persia, and the means available to achieve it, ff 63v-64;
- III. A selection of memoranda (dated 10-30 October 1868) on the possibility of employing British officers with the Persian Army, f 65;
- IV. 'The Policy of Great Britain towards Persia, ff 66-69;
- V. Instructions given to Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlingson as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. to the Court of Persia, dated 4 August 1859, ff 68-69;
- VI. 'Outline Sketch by Colonel Burne of the Shah of Persia's Visit to England, 1873, ff 69-72;
- VII. 'Note by Colonel Burne on the Persian Army, 20th December 1871', ff 72-73;
- VIII. 'Abstract of Events in Persia, Afghanistan, &c. from 1722 to the present period', ff 73v-78.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (78 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged into eight chapters — outlined in a table of contents on f 1 — with an appendix at the end.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 1A and terminates at f 78, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/C28
- Title
- 'Persia'
- Pages
- 1r:41r, 43v:78v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence