'Memorandum. Regarding our future relations with Persia, with special reference to the extension and maintenance of British influence, and to the system of British Consular representation in Southern Persia.' [‎18v] (2/6)

as defined roughly in the first paragraph above, we have to consider how
this influence may be rendered effective, and how British interests may best
be represented and protected in our sphere.
G. The first and most obvious point to be borne in mind in the consideration
of this matter is that, as long as Persia remains a single State, whether
really independent or under the joint tutelage of Great Britain and Russia,
the interests of Great Britain must continue to be represented as at present
by a British.Minister at the capital of the country, namely, Tehran. It is
unnecessary to elaborate this point which is an obvious truism of universal
application ; but it is necessary to state it and to bear it in mind.
7. Working under the Minister there must, of course, be Consular officers
in each province. Following the usual custom the Consul or Consul-General
of each province should reside at the capital of the province and have
under him such Vice-Consuls as are necessary to assist him; and each
provincial Consul or Consul-General should, in the natural order of things,
communicate directly with the Minister regarding the affairs of his own
province.
8. This again is an obvious truism which would scarcely need stating
were it not for the fact that the existing system of Consular representation
in Southern Persia presents certain anomalies and inconsistencies, and appears
in some respects to ignore the elementary principles of Consular represen
tation in foreign countries as formulated above. This is a matter regarding
which I have already submitted certain observations, and I would invite a
reference to my despatches on the subject written from Shiraz during the
year 1913, as well as to those of Sir Percy Cox ; and to Sir Edward Grey's
despatch summing up the matter and expressing his own views, and to
Sir Walter Townley’s reply to this last.
9. Briefly put, the anomaly consists in this: that the Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. has gradually acquired a sort of undefined status regarding the
south of Persia which might almost be said to constitute him a kind of
informal Minister for the south, and which gives him the position of Adviser-
in-Chief to the Indian Government regarding great tracts of inland Persia ;
whilst, although residing at a seaport some HOC miles from the capital of
this province, he is styled “Consul-General for Ears.” This situation is
admittedly anomalous, and has been characterised by Sir Edward Grey as
“ illogical.” It has, no doubt, grown up gradually together with the
Resident’s general position and status in the Gulf, and is a relic of an old-
fashioned system which has now completely changed. Formerly, we had no
proper Consular representative at Shiraz (such Consular duties as there
were being performed by a Native Consular Agent) and it was natural that
the Resident at Bushire, who frequently visited Shiraz during the summer
months, should be styled “Consul-General for Ears,” and should maintain a
general interest in, and direction over, Ears affairs ; but with the creation
of a iegular Consulate at Shiraz this position became anomalous, and ivas
necessanly and inevitably a source of friction and misunderstanding. I
would again refei to my despatches on the subject for a full exposition of my
views.
S enera l question of the position of the Resident
m the lersian Gulf it is clear, to begin with, that Bushire itself is a place
of small intrinsic value or importance. It is merely a landing place (for it
can scarcely be termed a “ Port ” in the proper sense of the word) for goods
and travellers starting for inland Ears, and possibly for Ispahan and beyond ;
and even this amount of importance will disappear as soon as Shiraz is
in ve( up y railway Avith Bunder Abbas, when Bushire Avill sink into
comp e e insigni icance as a petty port serving the needs only of the
immediate hinterland districts. The present importance of Bushire is, in
fact, purely artificial and is due to the fact that it is the headquarters of
tde Resident. I he Resident has to live somewhere ; and Bushire, being his