'BRITISH RELATIONS WITH KHAZAL, SHEIKH OF MOHAMMERAH.' [‎12r] (23/24)

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similar-action on the part of parliamentary government, in reply to those
representations, your Excellency was informed that Great Britain and Russia
being pledged to respect the integrity of Persia, the British Government were
not, properly speaking, able to admit even the possibility of Persia ceasing to be
a sovereign State or coming under the occupation of a foreign Power, but that in
the unlikely event of such a contingency the assurances already given to your
Excellency would become even more binding than before.
I was further permitted to inform you that whatever change might take
place in the form of government in Persia the British Government were prepared
to give you the same support against any encroachment on your rights as was
promised to you in 1902, and I was authorised to add that they were now pre
pared to extend the application of those assurances to your ‘‘ heirs and
successors.”
Mr. McDouall and I have informed you that in our opinion the assurances
as now extended and expressed, appear to satisfy all your requirements; but you
have further requested that the words “heirs and successors ” may be changed
and the words “ own successive male descendants ” may be written instead ; and
you have gone on to express the hope that His Majesty’s Government will be
pleased to dispel the last shadow of doubt from your mind regarding their own
intentions in the future, by adding after the words “male descendants” as
above, the words “ up to a period of 100 years ” (or if it be possible 150 years).
I cannot give your Excellency any reply on this point without reference to
Government, but I will lose no time in communicating to them your
representations.
I have, &c.
P. Z. COX, Major,
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. .
No. 5.
Consul-General Cox to the Sheikh.
(After compliments.) Mohammerah, \bth October, 1910.
I have the honour to intimate personally and in writing that I am authorised
to inform your Excellency that whatever change may take place in the form of
the Government of Persia, and whether it be Royalist or Nationalist, His
Majesty’s Government will be prepared to afford you the support necessary for
obtaining a satisfactory solution in the event of any encroachment by the Persian
Government on your jurisdiction and recognised rights or on your property in
Persia. In like manner they will safeguard you to the best of their ability against
an unprovoked attack by a foreign Power or against any encroachment by such
Power on your said jurisdiction and recognised rights or on your property in
Persia. These assurances are given for yourself, and are intended to extend to
your male descendants so long as you and they shall not have failed to observe
your obligations towards the central Government, and shall continue to be
acceptable to your tribesmen, to be guided by the advice of His Majesty’s Govern
ment, and to maintain an attitude satisfactory to them.
P. Z. COX, Lieutenant-Colonel,
British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
No. 6.
Sir Percy Cox to the Sheikh.
(After compliments.) 22^ November, 1914.
With reference to the assurances conveyed to your Excellency in mv letter
dated the 15th October, 1910 ( = llth Shawwal, 1328), and having regard to the
further valued services and co-operation which your Excellency has rendered to
the British Government and British interests in Arabistan and the Shatt-el-Arab,
I am now authorised to assure your Excellency personally, and do so by this