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'Persia' [‎15v] (30/156)

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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. .

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by Afghans has acted as a never healing sore on the
Persian mind. As said before, no sooner had the
present Shah ascended the throne than his Govern
ment devoted all their energy to the extension of
Persian influence over Herat. A favourable oppor
tunity for interference in the affairs of that city
soon occurred from the fact of the son of Yar Ma
homed proffering, in 1851, his allegiance to the
Shah. A considerable Persian force was organized
at Teheran and sent towards Khorassan, with the
object of according to this offer a very practical
reply. Sir Henry TLawlinson, then British Envoy
at Teheran, judging the position to be an embar
rassing one, wrote upon it as follows. He said : *
“ As I think it likely that your Lordship’s atten
tion may be drawn to the present somewhat em
barrassing state of affairs at Herat, I take the
liberty of recording a few brief observations on
the subject, the result of my long experience in the
politics of Persia and of the Afghan Principalities.
“ I shall not enter on the question of the abstract
value of Herat. It is sufficient for my purpose to
remind your Lordship that we sacrificed an army
and spent above 15,000,000^. sterling in order to
prevent this city from falling into the hands of
Persia, and thus serving as a possible outwork for
Russian demonstration against India. The cata
strophe which we took so much pains to avert in
1838 is now brought, by an almost natural course
of events, to the eve of accomplishment, and the
consideration which arises to every one who takes
an interest in Eastern politics is, in such an emer
gency, how are we to act ?
“ There is no question at present of Russian
hostility or intrigue. There is no imminent danger.
The changes now in operation in the countries inter
mediate between India and Persia have been brought
about by that tide of events which is independent
of human control. The existence of Herat as a
distinct principality was maintained by the energy
and ability of a single individual, Yar Mahomed
Khan. Under the rule of his son, the continuance
of such independence seems to me almost impos
sible. Syud Mahomed Khan is thoroughly inca
pable ; he has no ambition to imitate his father;
the clan feeling of jealousy which is strong among
all Afghans (and particularly between the Ale-
kozyes and Barukzyes) arouses him to resist aggres-
sioii from Candahar, but he would sink without
reluctance into the obscure condition of a vassal of
the Persian Crown. As far as my knowledge extends,
there is no other member of his family, nor any
member even of the family of Shah Kamran, which
his father supplanted, from whom a nobler course
of action could be looked for.
“ The Heratees, as a body, undoubtedly dislike the
Persians, but they would prefer the rule of the
Shah to that of the Chief of Candahar, and for this
simple reason, that under the Baruckzyes they
would be shorn of all their tribal honours, all their

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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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Persia' [‎15v] (30/156), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C28, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025538941.0x00001f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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