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'Correspondence respecting the occupation of Merv by Russia and her proceedings on the Khorassan Frontier of Persia.' [‎119r] (19/26)

The record is made up of 1 file (13 folios). It was created in 15 Aug 1884. It was written in English and French. 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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19
* Home ; No. 573. Asia; Sect. 263,
f Home ; Nos. 598 and 612.
Minister here, who states that his Government cannot recognize
claims of Persia to any territory on right bank of river. Minister
for Foreign Affairs has shown me draft of letter he proposes to
write in reply, in which he denounces present action of Russia
as unfriendly, and reasserts Persian claim to entire district. He
states that, before new fort was built, only one Sarakhs, the
district on the right bank of river, was known, that it was recog
nized by all as Persian territory, and that Persian claim to district
had never been questioned even by Turkomans. With regard to
Russian statement that the district belongs to Merv Turkomans,
attention is called to fact that the latter twice during recent years
applied to Persia for permission to settle there, which was refused.
Minister for Foreign Affairs also cites official promise lately by
Russian Charge d’Affaires that territory claim should be investi
gated, which has not been done.
“ Persian Government is anxious to know whether Persian
remonstrances, and formal protest if made, would be supported by
Her Majesty’s Government at St. Petersburgh.”
In a telegram dated the 24th June,* the Viceroy
of India expressed the opinion of the Indian
Government that the Persian remonstrance should
he supported, the matter being at least left for
investigation by the Boundary Commission; the
retention of the Old Sarakhs district by Persia
would interrupt direct communications between
Akhal and Herat territory, and, conjointly with an
Afghan occupation of Panjdeh, would prevent
Bussia occupying any part of the Heri-Bud
valley; it was certain that more than fifty years
ago Persia drove the Salors out of Old Sarakhs,
and since then the Turkomans who occupied the
lands had done so by Persian permission. New
Sarakhs depended on the Old Sarakhs district for
supplies, and was useless by itself.
On the 3rd July, after reference to this Office,
and with Lord Kimberley’s concurrence, the fol
lowing answer was sent to Mr. Thomson’s telegram
of the 21st June :—f
“ Inform Persian Government confidentially, and with friendly
expressions, that it will probably be for their advantage to exhaust
every means of arriving at an understanding with Russia before
appealing to Her Majesty’s Government for support; but if,
notwithstanding Shah’s remonstrances, the Russian Government
insist on appropriating territory which can be shown to have been
under Persian rule at a recent date, Her Majesty’s Government
will be ready to consider any application which Shah may make
for their good offices at St. Petersburgh.”
I Asia; Sect. 266.
§ On the left bank of the Heri-Rud, about
20 miles south of Pul-i-Khatun.—A. W. M.
|| Memorandum, 17th July 1884.
Home; No. 678.
Mr. Thomson replied on the 8th July:—J
“ Have informed Persian Government as instructed in your
Lordship’s telegram of 3rd instant. Since mine of 21st June
Minister for Foreign Affairs has continued unavailing official
correspondence with Russian Minister, who maintains that Persia
undertaking not to interfere with I urkomans on right bank of
Tejend includes territory which they have occupied. Shah will
probably desist from claim when he sees that Russians are
determined to retain possession, but His Majesty has found
additional cause for disquietude in report received yesterday that
Russians mean to take over all Salor families from Zoorahad§ and
left bank of river.”
With reference to the concluding paragraph of
this telegram, Mr. Condie Stephen, Second Secretary
at Teheran, at present in this country, wrote as
follows:—1|
“ I would venture to suggest that it might be desirable to urge
the Shah to intimate to the Chief of the Salors that he ann his
followers are not obliged to remain at Zoorabad, but are at liberty

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This file is a memorandum written by Adolphus Warburton Moore, Political and Secret Department, of historical events and correspondence relating to the occupation of Merv by Russia, and to Russian activity in Khorassan, on the Persian boundary.

The memorandum reproduces a despatch to the Russian Ambassador to London, in which Lord Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, expresses the British Government's displeasure at hearing of the Russian annexation of Merv, against assurances previously given by the Government of the Russian Empire. The memorandum gives the Russian response, describing the annexation as merely an act of local administration without political pre-meditation on the part of Russia, who continue to seek co-operation and friendly relations with the British Government.

The memorandum goes on to describe British concerns and Russian denials that they next intended to annexe Sarakhs on the Persian border, and, upon the arrival of Russian troops at Sarakhs and in other parts of Khorassan, Persian protests to the Russian Government.

Extent and format
1 file (13 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 110 and terminates at the last folio with 122, 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 110-122; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

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English and French in Latin script
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'Correspondence respecting the occupation of Merv by Russia and her proceedings on the Khorassan Frontier of Persia.' [‎119r] (19/26), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C41/5, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100032048742.0x000014> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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