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'From Captain the Honourable G. C. Napier, on Special Duty in Persia, to the Political Secretary, India Office, Westminster, dated London, 30th July 1879' [‎129v] (8/12)

The record is made up of 1 file (6 folios). It was created in 30 Jul 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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I was not myself in a position to judge of the state of our relations
with Persia, or the relative extent of our influence. The facts before
me were that the Shah had shown a decided wish to extend his pro
tection to the Akhal, and to include their settlements in his frontier,
and that my journey had been, I was assured, cordially approved by his
Ministers, and had up to that time been facilitated loyally by the pro
vincial Government. It‘wasafair inference that any plan offering a
chance of securing his frontier would be readily considered.
While on my side unable to forecast the action of the Persian Govern
ment, I knew that neither Her Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires at Teheran
nor the Persian officials could be so well aware as myself of the real
temper of the Akhal tribe, or of the possibility of preventing them from
attacking the Russian camp, and thereby giving the Russian com
mander justification for an advance into the Atak.
Thirdly, the probable action of the Russian authorities was to be con
sidered, and it seemed unlikely that General Lomakin would be per
mitted to pursue the Turkomans into Persian territory, at a time when
every effort was being made to secure the good w r ill and co-operation of
Persia. The object, too, of the expeditions against the Akhal had
hitherto always been punitive, and the purpose of the Russian
Government declaredly the pacification of the Steppe, while the political
advantage to Russia of the possession of such a line of communica
tion w r ith Afghanistan had not been brought into such prominence as
now.
It appeared, therefore, possible that the ambition of subordinate
authorities might be restrained in view of more important issues in
Europe, and the pacific solution that offered itself be accepted.
That the designs of Russia w r ould be materially facilitated by any
restraint put upon the tribe or its turbulent elements w r as not possible,
in view r of the feeble powder of combination and resistance of the Turko
man nomads. If Russia w r ere determined at all costs to possess herself
of the Atak. nothing within their power to achieve would arrest her
progress. This could, it seemed clear to me, only be effected by some
arrangement that should satisfy all her just grounds of complaint, and
while thus throwing the responsibility of hostilities on her, and un
masking her intentions, raise prospective difficulties so serious as to
compel a cautious policy.
On the 18th of June I returned to Mashad from Sarakhs, Laving in
the meantime learnt that the Russian force was still on the coast.
It seemed possible that the idea of an expedition had been abandoned
or deferred, pending a settlement of affairs in Europe, and I determined,
therefore, wdiile awaiting further news or the receipt of fresh instructions,
to continue my preparations for a journey through the Atak.
I found the Governor of the province still professedly willing to give
me every assistance in his pow T er, and he assured me that no objection had
yet been raised to my journey at Teheran, and that my project w T as very
favourably viewed, but he subsequently gave me to understand that
much opposition was being made by the Russian Minister, and that he
was no longer as free to act as before.
As it seemed to me unadvisable to attempt to cross the border without
the open and full concurrence of the Persian Government, I reminded
him that I had set out with the consent of the authorities at Teheran,
and their pledge of assistance, and that, until this was formally with
drawn, I should continue to expect all the help he could give me.
I w r as well acquainted with the border Chiefs personally, and knew
their deep-rooted objection to anything likely to affect their position as
intermediaries between their Government and the Turkomans, and I had
before me the experiences of Captain Butler, who had lately been among
them, to show me to what lengths they were prepared to go in thwarting
a traveller not amply supported by the authorities. It seemed to me
necessary, in view of the ill usage met with by that Officer, to vindicate

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The letter is a report by Captain George Campbell Napier on his journey to the Turkoman [Turcoman] frontier of Persia in 1878. It outlines his attempts to facilitate the submission of the Merve [Mary] and the Akhal [Ahal] Turkomans to Persia, as an alternative to their annexation by Russia.

Extent and format
1 file (6 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 126 and terminates at f 131, 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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English in Latin script
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'From Captain the Honourable G. C. Napier, on Special Duty in Persia, to the Political Secretary, India Office, Westminster, dated London, 30th July 1879' [‎129v] (8/12), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C27, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025715708.0x000009> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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