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'Correspondence respecting the occupation of Merv by Russia and her proceedings on the Khorassan Frontier of Persia.' [‎120r] (21/26)

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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J
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21
in regard to the Turkomans at Zoorabad, and the
deputation of Mr. Finn to that place, Mr. Godley
replied (19th July) :—
“ Lord Kimberley does not think that anything can be added
to the answer already given to the Persian Government, as
regards Sarakhs. It appears, however, to His Lordship, to be of
great importance that; Russia should not encroach on Persian
territory south of that place, and he would suggest that assur
ances should be given to Malkom Khan as to the active interest
Her Majesty’s Government take in the maintenance of the
Shah’s authority in the districts of Khorassan bordering on
Afghanistan.
“ The Shah should, in Lord Kimberley’s opinion, be urged to
lose no time in placing trustworthy officers in charge of those
districts, and to use every effort to prevent the Russians from
obtaining an influence over the population through the Turkoman
tribes.
“ His Lordship entirely agrees in the recommendation of
Mr. Stephen respecting the Turkomans at Zoorabad, and considers
it, on every account, desirable that they should not remain on
Persian territory, where it appears they have only settled
within the last two years. He also thinks it advisable that
Mr. Finn should be sent to Zoorabad.”
When, on the 19th July, the Persian Minister
again called at the Foreign Office, Lord Granville
reminded him that the Persian Government had
been repeatedly warned (in 1878 and 1879) of the
result likely to follow' the complaisant attitude
maintained by them in regard to the advances of
Russia. They had refused an offer made by the
British Government at that time to support their
right to Knri-kala.* Later, when they had been
urged to establish their authority in the neigh
bourhood of the Tejend, and had been offered
a subsidy to assist them in so doing, they had
Memo., nth April 1882, declined" the offer. f The time had now r passed
when we could interfere with any effect in regard
to the frontier north of Sarakhs. With regard
to the frontier south of that point, he said that
Her Majesty’s Government took an active interest
in preventing Russian encroachment on the left,
bank of the Heri-Rud. They therefore advised
the Shah to use every effort to strengthen his
position in that quarter, and with that view recom
mended him to take immediate steps to intimate to
the Chief of the Salor tribe of Turkomans that he
and his followers were not obliged to remain at
Zoorabad, but were at liberty to emigrate to Merv
or elsewhere in the Turkoman territory in case they
preferred to do so.
In the event of the Salor Turkomans showing
signs of a disposition to tender their submission to
Russia, they should at once be given to understand
that they could not be allowed to remain at Zoorabad
or in Persian territory.
Lord Granville added that he proposed to instruct
Mr. Finn, who had been sent to Meshed, to proceed
to Zoorabad, in order to watch what was taking
place.
Malcom Khan observed that what Lord Granville
had said might be good advice, but that it was not
a reply to the question which he had been instructed
to put, viz., what course Her Majesty’s Government
would take if Russia were to lay claim to the whole
10061 . &
* See I. O. Memo., 8th February 1882,
page 100. t
f See I. O.
pp. 16 and 24.

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Content

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.' [‎120r] (21/26), 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_100032048742.0x000016> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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