File 1356/1912 Pt 2 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople. (Mohammerah Boundary)' [‎228r] (464/680)

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(No. 75. Confidential.) . 7 n ioiq
gj r Foreign Office, March o, lylo.
I HAVE received your Excellency’s despatch No. 158 of the 25th ultimo, in which
you transmit a further report, with a map, prepared by His Majesty’s vice-consul at
Kasr-i-Shirin on the subject of the frontier in the province of Zohab.
It seems to me that, if the Turkish Government are to be induced to accept the
recommendations made in the British and Russian notes of 1912 in regard to the
southern and northern portions of the frontier respectively, some slight cessions of
territory to Turkey on some portions of the frontier will very probably be necessary in
order that the settlement should appear in the light of a compromise and not of a
Turkish surrender. It can hardly be contested that Persia would be well advised to
make some relatively minor cessions if by doing so she could secure the great advantage
of a settled frontier ; and if His Majesty’s Government and the Russian Government
were to recommend her to agree to any particular line there is reason to suppose that
she would acquiesce. . .
I am not, however, desirous of putting forward any particular recommendation to
the Persian Government for the moment; but I think it is very desirable that
Excellency should discuss fully, and at an early date, with your Russian colleague the
several proposals elaborated by Mr. Soane and the Russian consul-general at Bagdad
in order that His Majesty’s Government and the Russian Government may reach an
early decision as to the settlement which they can urge, when the proper time arrives,
with the greatest prospect of success. _
I have some difficulty in following Mr. Soane’s various propositions in relation to
his first map, in so far as concerns the report enclosed in your Excellency’s despatch
No. 1060 of the 12th December; but I am disposed to think that the blue line, as
shown on Mr. Soane’s map, dated the 13th January, 1913, might be recommended as
far as Darband-i-Ur, and that from that place to Saumur the red line might be
recommended, provided a saving clause were inserted in the deed of transfer or agree
ment to protect the interests of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company at Chia Surkh. 1
further think that the districts of Shemiran and Saumur, which are shaded m the map,
might be recognised as Turkish. .
" I should like to be informed by telegraph of the result of your discussion with.
your Russian colleague. n ^
Six copies of your Excellency’s despatches Nos. 1060 of the 12th December, 191-,
and 158 of the 25th February, 1913, are enclosed for convenience of reference.
I am, &c.
E. GREY.