File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.' [‎251v] (512/885)

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tion ; lie now asserted his independence of Thamir,
and threatened, if interfered with, to call in the
protection of the Persians. It was from the year
1837 that Major llawlinson dated the direct
political connection between the town of Moham-
merah and Persia. In the next few years Persia
seems to have intervened more actively in the
affairs of Mohammerah, though she did not
disturb Sheikh Plaji Jabir: at Pellahieh, on the
other hand, she had deposed Sheikh Thamir,
and installed his nephew Pariss in his place.
Such, in general outline, was the result of
Major Rawlinson’s investigations. He recom
mended, and his advice was in the main endorsed
by Sir Stratford Canning, that the frontier should
he defined as shown on the accompanying sketch
map ; it will be observed that the suggested line
passes lengthways through the centre of the island
of El Khizr or Abadan, then, leaving the town
of Mohammerah to Persia, it runs parallel to
the Shatt-el-Arab at some distance inland
from the hank. In recommending this line,
Major Rawlinson estimated that the only valuable
lands which Turkey would lose would be those
along both hanks of the Haffar Canal, where
the double town of Mohammerah was situated ;
but to these lands, he added, she could not
advance any valid geographical claim, and for
manv years they had been practically lost to
her.
It is important to recall once more that at this
time the boats bound for Mohammerah used
largely the Bamishere Channel, now no longer
navigable; and doubtless this was not without
influence upon Major Bawlinson s conclusions.
The only evidence produced at the Conference
at Erzeroum relative to the allegiance of the
Chaab tribe is to be found in the examination of
Sheikh Thamir, the late chief at Eellahieh, who
had been summoned to attend by Turkey. This
person declared that the Chaab were actually,
and always had been, under the dominion of the
Sultan; but Sir Stratford Canning reported that
his evidence should be received with caution, as
he had been ejected from his chiefship by the
Persian Government, and was seeking to re
establish himself through the assistance of the
Porte. Certain natives of Bussorah had indeed
given evidence to the same effect, and a certificate
in a similar sense, and signed by thirty-five
inhabitants of Koweit, was also produced; but
Evidence at
Erzeroum
Conference
( 1843 ).
Report of
ninth conference,
December 19,
1843.
Colonel Williams,
December 26,
1843.
Report of
tenth conference,
December 26,
1843.
Colonel Williams,
No. 66 ,
December 30, 1843
(Enclosure 2).