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'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.' [‎20r] (5/6)

The record is made up of 1 file (3 folios). It was created in 8 Sep 1916. 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 he second solution would be that the MinistPr i i i t
be an officer furnished from India as in the cLsfof SirMo I ‘n Uld “ S
nommated by the Indian Government for the ^st “ DUrand ’ but
Indi™ e f“ov PUOn f ® ithe r° f these cour3es would undoubtedly give to the
18 Having made this statement merely as a part of the general con
sideiation of a large question, I will proceed to consider how the proposal
uhich I am mvself submitting can be reconciled with India’s interests 1 and
iudias claims for consideration in all South Persian and Gulf matters.
think in the lirst place that too much stress need not be laid unon the
somewhat confused and unsatisfactory state of affairs which at present
pievails in Southern l ersia. This state of affairs is, of course, abnormal and
wi terminate when Persia begins to resume a normal state.’ My proposals
are in fact intended for use in the immediate future when the war is over
m,d when die work ol reconstructmn is in progress: and for this purpose
they should, as I believe and hope, provide a practical working method of a
sufficiently satisfactory nature, whilst at the same time giving the Indian
Government all due weight and voice in all matters whicl d ecdv
concern it.
.19 To begin with when the Consular officers in Southern Persia are
benig found by the Indian Government they will naturally owe special
allegiance and loyalty to that Government; and this without at all inter
fering with or prejudicing their relations with the Minister, will inevitably
influence them in all questions which affect India, and will facilitate their
mutual co-operation in the general problems connected with the restoration
and maintenance of order m the South. The Consul at Bushire in charge of
the Gulf and hinterland interests would probably be in constant direct
communication with the Indian Government regarding his special charge
(as would also though perhaps to a somewhat lesser extent, the Consul ft
oiammerahy, the other Consuls would carry on their duties precisely as at
present on a system which works well and without friction at Meshed and
feeibtan. lhat is to say, that the bulk of their correspondence would be
regarding matters of internal economy and domestic or provincial policy
and would naturally be directed to the Minister ; but that they would also
communicate freely with the Government of India on all questions which
specially affected or interested that Government. Indian interests would in
tact be well and loyally safeguarded, and in any larger questions of policy or
strategy which might arise the views of the Government of India would of
course, carry due weight with His Majesty’s Government as at present,
I he actual increase of work involved in the Foreign Department due to this
arrangement would, in my opinion, be very small—scarcely appreciable in
fact. The correspondence of the British Consul at Bushire would probably
be somewhat Jess m volume than was the correspondence of the Resident"
and the other Consuls would only refer to India from time to time on special
occasions very much as they do at present.
20. The arrangement may not perhaps he an ideal or a strictly logical
one, but at any rate it provides a practical modus operandi which is all that
can be expected in practical politics. And it has besides the very great
advantage of doing away with the present anomalous system of dual control
which is vicious in principle, and has been a fruitful source of misunder-
standing, friction, and even disaster.
21. I would venture, in conclusion, to submit a few remarks on the
strategical bearing of my proposals, for although this subject lies somewhat
outside my province, it is one which must of necessity be taken into
consideration in any discussion regarding fresh lines of demarcation in
Persia. 1 would begin by saying that a new line defining the spheres of
influence of England and Russia must be a political line—not a strategical one
A glance at the map will prove this. It will obviously he impossible for the

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Content

This memorandum, written by Lieutenant-Colonel William Frederick Travers O'Connor, concerns the new subdivision of Persia into two spheres of influence – Russian and British – with the present neutral zone falling into the British sphere. The memorandum considers what system of Consular or other representation should be adopted in order to maintain not only law and order, but also British influence in the area.

Before discussing the issue of Consular representation, O'Connor mentions two alternative suggestions regarding the future of Southern Persia (the first being that Britain should decline to extend its influence beyond its present zone, and the second being that Southern Persia should be turned into one or more independent states), which he dismisses as lying outside the sphere of practical politics.

Assuming that the British sphere will encompass the whole of Southern Persia, O'Connor advocates the continuation of the existing post of British Minister at Tehran (located in the Russian sphere), and suggests that the Minister should be supported by Consular officers residing in the capital of each province. O'Connor suggests that Consul or Consul-General posts – to be held by officers of the Indian Political Department – should be present in the following places: Sistan [also spelled Seistan in this file] (as at present); Kerman (for the province of Kerman); Shiraz (for Fars, excluding the Gulf hinterland); Mohammerah [Khorramshahr in modern-day Iran] (for Arabistan); and Bushire (for the Gulf and for hinterland affairs).

In addition, O'Connor advocates the appointment of a Resident or Consul in the Bakhtiari country. He suggests that his proposed Consulates be run in the same way as the existing Consulates at Seistan, Meshed and Kerman.

O'Connor goes on to address the problem of the rivalry between the Home Government and the Indian Government on the subject of Southern Persia. He makes the following two proposals: either Southern Persia should be placed under direct control of the Indian Government, or it should be guaranteed that the Minister at Tehran will always be an officer from British India, who has been nominated for the post by the Indian Government.

In this memorandum, O'Connor suggests that the future arrangement of Consular representation in Southern Persia has been made complicated by the anomalous status of the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . O'Connor argues that, in the post-war period, whilst it would still be possible to retain a Resident at Bushire, it would not need to be such an important and highly paid appointment; he appears to imply that his proposed Consul at Shiraz and Consul at Bushire would take over the Resident's responsibilities regarding inland Persia and the Gulf and its hinterland respectively.

Extent and format
1 file (3 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 18, and terminates at f 20, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

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English in Latin script
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'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.' [‎20r] (5/6), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C155, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026566697.0x000006> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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