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File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.' [‎128v] (266/885)

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

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Should it, however, be correct, the question of how such d
step is a violation of any treaty between Turkey and Persia
surely belongs to those two countries to decide, and England’s
interference in the matter, while causing surprise, can only be
explained on the supposition that she is seeking to acquire
influence on the Shat-el-Arab and in the Gulf of Basrah, a
proceeding which is, however, contrary to England s established
policy.”
22. The Turkish Ambassador, haying made no
communication to the Foreign Office respecting
Fao, was asked if he had instructions to present a
Memorandum on the subject. He said that he
had no formal instructions, hut had been privately
told to give explanations and assurances to Her
Majesty’s Government. They were to the effect
that the intentions of the Porte were far from
being hostile to any one, and that there would be
no interference with the navigation of the
Shat-el-Arab. But His Excellency could give no
explanation of the object with which the fort was
being built.
Rustem Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was warned that unless an
assurance that the works were stopped was given
to Her Majesty’s Government, ships from the
Zanzibar squadron would be sent up to see what
was going on, and that under no circumstances
would guns be allowed to be landed at the fort.
23. This action of Her Majesty’s Government
caused “ a most painful impression at the Palace,
“ and amongst those officials who are cognizant of
“ what has taken place.”
Confidential inquiries made at this time failed
to elicit any information as to the despatch of guns
for the armament of the fort.
24. The representations made at Constantinople
by the British Ambassador, however, remained
without effect, for on the 28th February 1889. Sir
W. White wrote:—
“ I have come to the conviction that it is a question on which
the Ottoman Ministers who constitute the Sublime Porte, with
the exception of the Minister for War, are entirely powerless, and
that the matter rests with the Sultan with whom are all the
papers.
“As regards the present Seraskier or Minister for War, it is not
unlikely that he has some secret personal interest in these costly
constructions.
“ As I have some reason to believe that Russian partizans have
represented here that in reality the Shah himself entertains no
serious objections to these Fao fortifications, but that it is only
Great Britain that has some selfish motive to prevent those
fortifications, I have been constantly pressing Mohsin Khan, the
Persian Ambassador, to urge the Sublime Porte on the subject;
and seeing how unavailing all these repeated representations to
Ottoman Ministers proved to be, I suggested to my Persian
colleague to place in the Sultan’s hands a short Turkish memo
randum which I got drawn up for Elis Excellency on the subject,
and of which I promised also to send a copy to the E’alace after
he had done so.
“ After considerable delay His Excellency had the honour of
dining with the Sultan on Monday the 25th instant, and got His
Imperial Majesty’s permission to send a memorandum on the next
day, which he did, and which was followed by an exactly similar
memorandum (also in Turkish), given on the next day by Sir
r\
*
Tetter from Foreign Office, dated 31st
October 1888. H. C., Vol. 105, page 507.
Warning to the Porte.
Letter from Foreign Office, dated 26th
November 1888. H. C., Vol. 105, page 1105.
Letter from Foreign Office, dated 5th
November 1888. H. V., Vol. 105, page 629.
Letter from Foreign Office, dated 11th
March 1889. II. C., Vol. 107, p. 973.

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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
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File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.' [‎128v] (266/885), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/266, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036171272.0x000043> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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