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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
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102
added, admit Persia’s claim to Mery,* iii which case
a protest would be made by him to the -Russian
Minister claiming it, and protesting against Russian
interference with it as tantamount to an aggression
on an integral portion of Persian territory ; the
Shah had authorized the despatch of an agent to
renew negotiations with the Merv Chiefs for their
allegiance.
Lord Salisbury was disposed to authorize
Mr. Thomson to inform the Persian Government
that Her Majesty’s Government would recognize
the title of Persia to Merv on the receipt of a
written assurance that they would never consent to
the occupation of that place by any other Power.
A reference on the subject was made to India,f
and a reply received from the Viceroy approving
generally of the proposal as the best arrangement
immediately available. The Viceroy believed, how
ever that the Ameer Yakoob Khan would dislike
the arrangement, but that, if the alternative lay
between a Russian and Persian occupation of Merv,
the Ameer would doubtless prefer the latter. The
difficulties connected with the recognition of Persian
sovereignty over Merv, whilst the British Envoy
was negotiating terms of peace at Gundamuk with
Yakoob Khan, caused the postponement of any
definite communication to the Persian Government
on the subject, and the question has since remained
in abeyance.
Continuation of the Reign of Nusser-ud-
deen. —The treaty of 1857 placed the relations
between Persia and England on an entirely new
footing. By it, all the earlier treaties were prac
tically cancelled, except the convention of 1851
for the suppression of slavery in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
,
which by the 13th Article was renewed till 1872,
and for such time afterwards as neither of the con
tracting parties by a formal declaration annul it.
The Persian authorities^; deprived of any further
right of interference in Herat, turned their
attention to Khelat. Pounding her pretensions to
dominion in Beluehistan on the conquests of former
dynasties, Persia gradually advanced beyond the
frontier which marked her possessions early in the
present century, and justified her action by the
necessity of repressing the border Beluchis who
were in "the habit of organizing marauding expe
ditions into the neighbouring province of Kirman.
In this way the district of Bumpore fell into the
hands of the Persians in 1811, and nine years later,
after the unsuccessful revolt of its Chief, was
permanently occupied by them. This step was
followed by a series of aggressions by Persia on the
Kedj-Mekran portion of Khelat which attracted the
serious attention of the Indian Government, result
ing finally in 1876 in the definition of a boundary
between Persia and Khclat by Sir P. Goldsmid’s
Commission, which confirmed to the Shah a large
* There is some idea abroad that Afghan
istan has some claim to Merv. She has none.
She is bound not to go beyond the boundaries
fixed in 1873. In years gone by, however,
botli Yakoob Khan and his father have been
on very friendly relations with the Turkomans.
{See Captain Napier’s Note on Merv, 22nd
February 1875.)
In the Despatch, No. 21, 2nd July 1877,
the Governor of India wrote :—
“ Were our relations with Afghanistan on
a more satisfactory footing, the most natural
and most efficient form which such action
could assume would be arrangements with
the Ameer authorizing him to enter into
friendly relations Avith the Tekke Turkomans,
and ptomising him our support in protecting
them from Russian aggression if they choose
to come under his rule. The Merv Tckkes
have for some time past courted the Afghan
alliance, guided by a firm belief in the
dependence of the latter country on England,
which causes them to rely much on the aid
they may obtain from it.”
f Telegram to Viceroy, 14th July 1879.
Reply to Foreign Office, 17th July 1879.
Note. —As no events of any importance
have occurred in Persia since 1857, apart
from those already narrated in connection
with Herat and Seistan, this section will
principally contain reference to recent
opinions of the Indian Government us to
Persian affairs, and to the visit of the Shah
in 1873 to Europe.
J Aitchison's Treaties, Yol. VI.
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