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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎54r] (59/68)

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The record is made up of 1 file (34 folios). It was created in Mar 1882. 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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57

Goorgaun rivers; also that no fort or stronghold
should hereafter be built at the embouchures of
the Attrek and Goorgaun rivers ; and likewise that
they should not interfere in any way with the pos
sessions of Persia, but that the Persian Government
should continue to maintain the authority they have
hitherto held in respect to these tribes and their
territories. In accordance with the wish expressed
by His Majesty the Shah, the undersigned lost no
time in referring, by telegraph, to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of His Majesty the Emperor, and
he has now the pleasure to bring to the knowledge
of the Ministers of His Majesty the Shah the
reply which he has just received, to the effect that
the Government of His Majesty the Emperor re
cognizes the authority and sovereignty of Persia up
to the banks of the Attrek River; that they have no
intention to construct any fort.
“ (Signed) M. Beger.”
Henvey’s Precis, 1872—75, p. 68.
Parliamentary Papers, Central Asia, No. 2
1873), p. 25.
Ibid, p. 20.
Plowden’s Precis, 1875—77, p. 28, and
Sir E. Hertslet’s Foreign Office Memo
randum, 1877.
This was the result of the proposal made to
M. Beger by the Persian Minister (Mirza Said
Khan) that he “ should engage formally on the part
<f of his Government that the Russians would not
“ occupy any territory to the South of Kizyl-Soo
“ (Krasnovodsk), and that he should also come to
“ a distinct understanding with the Shah’s Ministers
“ as to what was to be recognized as the Persian
“ boundary line along the frontiers of the Turcoman
“ country.”
Describing at great length the manner in which
the above points had been discussed in detail
between himself and the Russian Minister, Mirza-
Said Khan observed to Mr. Thompson in Novem
ber 1869 that, “ if Her Majesty’s Government were
“ now induced to exert their influence to restrain
“ Russia on this side, the Shah and his Ministers
“ conceived that the danger with which the frontier
“ was threatened would be averted.”
It was the Persian Minister who added the
clause to the effect that the Russians were not to
cross the Attrek, and this was as much as he
could do, notwithstanding the strong arguments
used by the Persian Governor of Astrabad in con
demnation of any countenancing of the Russian
encroachments. It was notified from Teheran to
the Governor of Astrabad that “ the Russians
“ are not to cross the Attrek, which is six fur-
“ sakhs distant from the Gurgan river at Ak-
<f Kaleh ; they are at liberty to build whatever
“ they like on the other side of the Attrek, but not
“ anything on the Persian side.”
In the year 1872 M. Stremoukhof, in a con
versation with Her Majesty’s Ambassador, denied
the existence of any agreement with Persia in
1869 over the Attrek frontier, while, later (March
1875), the Russian Minister at Teheran, answer
ing a letter addressed to him by the Persian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which the latter
maintained the unchallengeable claim of Persia
6662 . p

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Content

The memorandum is divided into four parts. The first part (folios 26-41) outlines Russian activities and aims in the Trans-Caspian region from 1716-1880; it narrates the extension of Russian influence over the Turcoman [Turkmen] tribes in the region to their eventual absorption into the Russian Empire to form part of Transcaspia. As a result it includes information concerning Russian military expeditions and various efforts made by them to coerce the Turcomen tribes into becoming Russian subjects, and some of the Turcoman efforts to resist. More especially it includes details on the establishment of a Russian naval base at Ashurada and the Russian occupation of Krasnovodsk [Turkmenbashi].

The second part (folios 42-48) concerns attempts by the Turcoman tribes to seek the protection of either Afghanistan or Persia. It includes a translation of a document (folios 44v-47) sent by Adul Hassan Khan, Governor of Kuchan, to Rukn-ud-dowla, Governor of Khorassa, which concerns the submission of the Teke tribes of Atamish and Tokhtamest to Persia; a Russian take on the situation claiming that the tribes rejected the Persian offer is included alongside. The terms of an agreement between the Shah of Persia and the Merv [Mary] Teke — in which the latter become Persian subjects — is located on folios 47v-48.

The third part (folios 49-52) focuses on the attempts by the Amir of Afghanistan, Shrere-Ali-Khan [Sher Ali Khan], to seek British protection against Russian aggression; the Amir is concerned that a Russian advance on the Merv would be a prelude to an attack on Afghanistan, or that the Russians may pursue any retreating Turcoman into Afghanistan.

The fourth and final part (folios 53-58) outlines Persia's efforts to secure its northern frontier against Russian encroachment, and the interventions that the British have made to assist with this resistance. It also discusses diplomatic exchanges to affect a joint Anglo-Russian agreement to maintain the integrity of Persia.

Extent and format
1 file (34 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 25, and terminates at f 58, 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 item also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'The Russians in Akhal' [‎54r] (59/68), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C78, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025852016.0x00003c> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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