File 1356/1912 Pt 1 'Turco-Persian Frontier:- negotiations at Constantinople.' [‎376r] (761/885)

(Turkey 57 a), the ancient frontier, “ as defined by treaty,” gives the plains of Ghilan, Enetosur 0
Derah, and Kileh Shahin to Persia, while in the identic map of 1869 the plaius in J? an ^- n g’ s
question are merely placed within the limit of the neutral zone, the question being thus 155 0 f
left open. The other points in the treaty do not seem to me to call for much comment, 1844.
Darneh and Dertent in all five versions being given to the Sultan ; while there can be
who doubt as to the attribution to Persia of Derah* and Zardeh, Mihriban and its
dependencies, and Avroman and its dependencies, though it is somewhat singular that
in the “ Jehan Numa” no mention is made of the latter place. Similarly, the general
tenor of the treaty unquestionably leaves Shahrizor to the Sultan, while the stipula
tions regarding the demolition of the fortresses of Kileh Zanjir, Kotoor Makow, and
Magazberd j (on the side of Kars) are practically the same in all five versions.^ Only,
however, in the Turkish version (No. 5) is Sirmil itself expressly attributed to lurkey,
and only in this version is it to be found that Azerbaijan belongs to that country.
Of the five versions of the treaty, the three which make mention of Bussorah are
The “ Tarikh-i-Naimeh ” ( 2 ).
The Vienna copy (3).
The Persian version (4).
The “Jehan Numa” ( 1 ) and, singularly enough, the Turkish version (5) being
silent as to this particular place.
The Vienna copy (3) and the Persian version (4) are identical in their references,
which are as follows :—
“ The Shah is to commit no aggression, nor meddle with the fortresses, burghs,
provinces, countries, mountains or hills lying between (i.e., on the side of) Akhattzihs,
Kars, Van, Cherizoul, Bagdad, and Bussorah.
In the “ Tarikh-i-Naimeh ” the reference is :—
“No interference, moreover, to be admitted on the part oi Persia with any of the
fortresses, or villages, or coasts lying within the several acknowledged teintones of
Akheshkeh, Kars, Van, Shahrizoul, Bagdad, and Bussorah.
Beyond the references above given, the treaty contains nothing further as^ regards
Bussorah, and it wdll be noticed that only the “ Tarikh-i-Naimeh mentions the
“ coasts ” in connection with the latter place.
The Omissions in the Treaty.
1 . No mention of any place between Bussorah and Jestan (Jessan, about 12 miles
to the south or south-west of Bedrai) which could serve to fix the limits of the two
Empires between those two places.
2 . No mention of the line between Bedrai and Mendalh, or of that from Mendalli
northwards. • i 11 i
3 . Shahrizor to Van (z.e., to Kotur, east of Van), treaty also entirely blank.
H. S. SHIPLEY.
Foreign Office, March 16, 1912.
* According to a footnote to Sir H. Rawlinson’s memorandum (p. 2), this Derah would not apparently be
the plain of that name, but is the Bireh and Pezai (Direh) of the “ Tarikh-i-Naimeh ” and the Vienna copy
respectively, and is (Sir H. Rawlinson suspects) the modern Piran below the fort of Zardah.
f Near the ruins of Ani.