File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎162r] (328/416)

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contemplated changes would he used as a pretext for putting an end to his power as
that of the last of the great feudal Chiefs of Persia.
Pears were also entertained that if the Sheikh were forcibly to resist any such
attempts the Persian Government would retaliate by their favourite method of
intrigue, and endeavour to create dissension in the Chaab tribe by setting up the
nephew of Sheikh Khazal, Sheikh Aboud, who resided at Ahwaz, and was not on the
most cordial terms with his uncle.
In March 1900 a Memorandum was communicated to the Persian Government
by Her Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires.
In this paper it was stated that the British Consul-General at Bushire had
recently called Lord Salisbury’s attention to the state of affairs at Mohammerah. In
order to avoid difficulties in the future his Lordship thought it best that there
should be a clear understanding of his views as to the ports of Mohammerah, Bushire,
and Bunder Abbas, and other ports of the Gulf.
The control of these ports by a foreign Power might lead to a state of things
which Her Majesty’s Government, in the interests of the Indian Empire, would he
hound to resist. This had been recognized by the Persian Government, who, on the
23rd October, 1897, gave a written promise that the customs of Southern Persia
should never he placed under foreign control and supervision. Her Majesty’s
Government must hold the Persian Government to the strict observance of this
engagement.
As the Persian Government were aware, far the larger part of the trade of the
above-mentioned ports was British. This trade imposed certain duties upon Her
Majesty’s Government, and they could not pass without notice any measure likely
to effect its position and prospects. It was from this point of view that the Marquess
of Salisbury desired to inform the Persian Government that, in view of British
interests in the trade of Mohammerah and in the navigation of the Karun, Her
Majesty’s Government must insist upon their right to be consulted before any
change were made in the administration of the customs or in the position of the
Sheikh. In claiming such a right of consultation, the Persian Government could
have no doubt as to the anxiety of the British Government for the preservation of
order, the maintenance of the Persian sovereignty, and the improvement of Persian
resources. In all these the interests of Her Majesty’s Government were second only
to those of Persia herself.
The reply of the Persian Government was verbal:—
‘‘Not only in Mohammerah, but in every part of Persia where British interests
were concerned, the Persian Government, before taking any steps of importance,
would consult the British Government, but Persia could not give a definite Agreement
with regard to a special point of her territory, as such an Agreement might appear to
others like a consent to partition.”
Mr. Spring-
Kiee,
No. 17,
March 27,
1900.
Mr. Spriug-
Rice,
No. 27,
April 5,
1900.
On the 10th May, 1900, Lord Salisbury addressed a despatch to Her Majesty’s
'Charge d’Affaires at Tehran, in which he wrote as follows :—
“ You should take any opportunity that may offer itself to explain that Her Majesty’s
Government have no desire to diminish, but rather seek to uphold and confirm, the authority
of the Persian Government in the southern provinces, and that it is in the interest of Persia,
as well as of Great Britain, that they endeavour to prevent the intrusion of other Powers.”
The annexed extracts from a despatch, dated July 1901, from His Majesty’s
Minister at Tehran, show in some detail how the question of giving a British assurance
to the Sheikh arose :—
“ The Sheikh is evidently nervous about the designs of the Persian Government, and looks Sir A.
to us for assistance and protection. Hardiuge,
“ If a Russian Consul-General should come to Bushire the Sheikh may, should such support No- 118,
be withheld by us, be tempted to coquet with him, or at any rate to modify to some extent the 'Mr
friendly relations which he has hitherto cultivated with the British Resident at Bushire. 1JUI *
“ It is undoubtedly important that he should continue to be our friend and to be guided by
our advice, and I am therefore anxious to be able to give him such assurances of support as will
prevent his looking for help elsewhere.
“I shall visit him in the course of the tour to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports which I hope to
undertake next October, and I should be grateful if your Lordship would instruct me as to
the language which I should hold to him in reply to the questions which he will almost certainly
put to me in regard to possible difficulties between himself and the Persian Government.
“ My idea is that we should endeavour to persuade him to come to a fair arrangement with
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