'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎11r] (26/610)

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turn a deaf ear to British remonstrances and in 1837 laid
siege to Herat, the population of which was largely Persian,
and which was the ancient capital of the Persian province
of Khorasan. The independence of Herat in order to prevent
it from falling under Russian influence, was already a principle
of British policy and a rupture resulted. Kharij island near
Bushire was occupied by a small force from India, all British
officers were recalled from Persia, and the Shah was induced
to give up the seige of Herat. This incident marks the
beginning of Anglo-Russian rivalry in Tehran and was a
setback to British influence, which had been ascendant since
the dismissal of the French mission from Persia in 1809.
British policy had prevailed for the moment, but -Herat
continued to he a source of contention. In 1853 it Was occupied
by troops sent by Nasir-ud-Din Shah, who had succeeded
Muhammad Shah in 1848, and again relinquished in compliance
with the demand of Great Britain. In 1855 for the third
time Persia resumed her aggression and Herat was captured
after a seige of some months. On this occasion the Shah was
more obdurate. The British Envoy was insulted and left issef 1 * *
Tehran and on 1st November 1856 the Governor General of
India declared war on Persia.
The British occupation of Kharij island and the capture of
Bushire, 1 induced the Shah to sue for peace and the war was
concluded in March 1857 by the treaty of Paris. “ The con
ditions of peace were—the Shah to withdraw his troops from
Herat, relinquishing every claim to sovereignty over it, and
to refrain from all interference in Afghanistan ; to recognize
the indepeudenc of Herat; prisoners taken at Herat to he
released without ransom. The British mission to he received
at Tehran with apologies ; the slave trade to be suppressed in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and apologies to be made to Mr. Murray
for the insolent conduct of the Shah and his Minister ”.
Great Britain and Persia also promised to each other “ most
favoured nation ” treatment 2 in the appointment of Consular
officers and in the treatment of their subjects and trade. As
soon as Persia had fulfilled her obl gations, the occupied Persian
territory was evacuated by British troops.
Great Britain’s conduct of this war thus forced upon her,
in which she studiously avoided dealing any serious blow to
Persia, and the generosity of the peace terms, are a striking
1 Muhammarab and Ahwaz were also captured before news of the treaty of
Paris had reached the British commander.
* i. e., the terms of the treaty of Turkomanchai, see para. 1 above page 3;
were made applicable to England.