Coll 17/15(2) 'Relations with Persia: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎23r] (56/1010)

that the Persian Government would not be satisfied with the formation of a
Mixed Commission for the administration of the Shatt-el-Arab, but must receive
assurances that its undoubted legal rights in the Shatt would be confirmed.
Consequently, if your Excellency imagined that his Excellency the Prime Minister
considered the formation of a commission would take the place of the frontier
question in the Shatt-el-Arab sector, there has been a misunderstanding. When
it appeared that your Excellency had construed the matter in this way, both his
Excellency and I informed your Excellency of the truth of the matter on the
evening of the 28th Murdad, 1314:, in order that there should be no misconception.
The Imperial Government regrets that the negotiations conducted in Tehran
will not have led promptly to a result. The Royal Iraqi Government has persisted
in its views and has in no way taken the difficulties of the Imperial Government
into account. Directly or indirectly they have pressed the Imperial Government
to accept the validity of the boundary delimited in 1914 and the provisions of the
Treaty of Erzerum, whereas, for numerous reasons and proofs, which have
constantly been repeated to the authorities of the Iraqi Government and were
explained in the replies of the representatives of Persia at the League of Nations,
it is impossible for the Imperial Government to recognise the official nature of
the boundary of 1914.
Since the Persian Government is desirous with the best of goodwill to settle
the difference directly with its neighbouring friendly Government, and in order
to dispose of the difficulties which the Iraqi Government declares to be facing
her, and in order to demonstrate practically and concretely its inward inclination
for peace and agreement with its dear and respected neighbour, it is ready to
consider formulae which shall not be incompatible with the special situation
of Iraq, which its representatives have frequently explained and which shall at
the same time correspond with the prestige and honour of Persia, with right,
justice and equity. It was for these reasons that the Persian Government was
prepared to abandon parts of its rightful claims and to recede from some of its
expectations. Elis Excellency the Prime Minister and I, taking into consideration
the objection of the Iraqi Government, evolved several formulae and proposed
them to your Excellency. Unfortunately, your Excellency did not accept any one
of these formulae; you repeated your former claims and pressed for recognition
of the whole 1914 line, without giving any facility in the important matter
contemplated by the Persian Government.
You will therefore agree that the Imperial authorities have left no step
untaken in order to obtain the result and object, and have demonstrated their
goodwill in the best way. We still hope that the Royal Iraqi Government will
take the position of the Imperial Government fully into account and either accept
any one of the formulae which have been proposed in Tehran in the last few days,
or will endeavour to propose a new formula acceptable to Persia, in order that,
please God, success may perhaps be attained in solving the matter.
The audience with His Imperial Majesty has been fixed for Sunday, 2nd of
the current month of Yurmah, at 5 p.m. at the Palace of Sa’adabad.
[Appendices S, T and U not printed.]