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File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.' [127r] (263/885)
The record is made up of 1 volume (436 folios). It was created in 7 Feb 1912-25 Sep 1912. 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
(See also llcport on the construction of
the Turkish Fort at Fao (April and Sep
tember 1888), dated Simla, 1st December
1888.)
Government of India consider
erection of fort prejudicial to
British interests.
Letter to Foreign Office, 27th June 1888.
H. C., Vol. 102 , p. 541.
Her Majesty’s Government ad
dress remonstrance to Porte.
(Foreign Office to Sir H. D. Wolff, dated
11 th Jufy 1888. See H. C. Vol. 102, p.
1293.)
as the generally received opinion in local unofficial circles. Its
construction can, I think, have but one object, i.e., that stated
above and apparently well known, and an opinion which is
strengthened when taken in conjunction with the threat of the
Turkish Admiral at Basrah some few years ago to fire upon
Lynch’s river boats, a threat which he was only dissuaded from
carrying out apparently by the astuteness of Captain Ramsay, then
Political Officer at Basrah, who pointed out to him the anomaly
of the Wali of Baghdad ordering him to blow the river steamers
out of the water when it was equally in his own power to have
done so himself at Baghdad. The consideration that Turkey is a
bankrupt nation and its Mesopotamian walayats in want of funds
but (sic) confirm this opinion.
“ Doubtless on the first favourable opportunity the Turks will
again call in question Britain’s right to navigate the Tigris, and
endeavour to enforce their opinion by blocking access to it even
as low down as Fao.”
17. In transmitting tins report the Government
of India wrote,—
“ Your Lordship will observe that the Fort commands the main
channel of the Shat-ul-Arab, and will enable the Turks to block,
at least temporarily, all access to the Tigris. It will further give
to the Turks the command of the traffic to Muhammerah, and
thereby control British trade with Mesopotamia and Arabistan.
“ We are of opinion that the erection of the Fort is prejudicial
to British interests ; and if Her Majesty’s Government do not feel
themselves in a position to demand that it should be demolished
or abandoned, we would at least recommend that strong support
should be given to any similar demands made by the Government
of His Majesty the Shah of Persia.”
18. And Lord Cross, in forwarding this communi
cation to the Foreign Office, expressed doubts
whether—
“ in existing circumstances diplomatic protests on the part of
the Shah against the construction of this fort would be effectual
even if supported by Her Majesty’s Government, but if the
Marquis of {Salisbury should deem it opportune to press the Persian
Government to take active steps at Constantinople with the object
of inducing the Sultan to abandon the construction of this fort as
menacing the approach to the Persian town of Mohammerah,
Lord Cross would entirely concur in such a course.”
19. It appeared to Lord Salisbury impossible to
allow the construction of the fort to be persisted in
without serious remonstrance and a warning of the
manner in which it was regarded by Her Majesty’s
Government Sir W. White was accordingly
authorised to present the following Memorandum
to the Porte, and, if he thought it desirable, to
take measures to bring its contents to the know
ledge of the Sultan. Lather than leave the matter
to be discussed by the Persian Government and to
support their representations, the Marquis of SaHs-
bury thought it desirable to remonstrate again
directly with the Porte.
II. C., Vol. 102, p. 1139.
“ Memorandum.
“ Her Majesty’s Government desire a^ain to call the serious
attention of the Sublime Porte to the objections which they have
already urged to the erection of a fort at the mouth of the Shat-el-
Arab, near Fao.
“ According to the latest accounts which have reached them,
this fort has now nearly been completed, and is so placed as to
command the deepest part of the channel, so that when armed it
will have the power of completely closing the navigation for sea
going merchant vessels to Basrah and Mohammerah. The treaty
between Turkey and Persia, signed at Erzeroum on the 19/31st
May 1847, contains in Article II. the following engagement on the
S. 19. G
About this item
- Content
The volume discusses the disputed Turco-Persian Frontier, particularly at Mohammerah, and the negotiations in Constantinople to attempt to settle it.
The correspondence focuses on:
- the differences of opinion over the actual boundary at Mohammerah, including several maps demonstrating these differences;
- movements of Turkish and Russian troops;
- ownership of the Shat-el-Arab and questions of access for navigation;
- copies of treaties, correspondence and memoranda dating back to 1639 relating to the question of the Turco-Persian frontier.
The principal correspondents in the volume are the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Secretary of State for India (Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe); the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Sir Percy Zachariah Cox); the British Ambassador to Constantinople (Sir Gerard Lowther); the British Ambassador to Russia (Sir George Buchanan); the Viceroy of India (Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst); the British Ambassador to Tehran (Sir George Head Barclay); representatives of the Foreign Office (particularly Alwyn Parker) and the 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. ; and Arthur Talbot Wilson, on special duty in relation to the Turco-Persian Frontier.
This volume is part one of two. Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (436 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 1356 (Turco-Persian Frontier) consists of 2 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/266-267. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 436; 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.
The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/266
- Title
- File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:22v, 24ar, 25r:73v, 75r:103v, 105r:122v, 124r:145v, 147r:184v, 187r:190v, 196v:203v, 214r:233r, 242r:242v, 244r:244v, 246r:251v, 253r:257r, 258r:261r, 262r:264v, 266r:270v, 272r:273v, 276r:279r, 282r:313v, 315r:324v, 326r:348v, 350r:370v, 372r:436v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence