File 4535/1928 Pt 15 ‘ANGLO-PERSIAN NEGOTIATIONS, 1929- Arbitration Articles in General & Commercial Treaties.’ [‎189v] (88/154)

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explaining the position as set out in Foreigi Office
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despatch 526 of the 31st October, suggested that, if the
Persian Government were to sigi the Optional Clause, the
question of arbitration might be simplified. The
Minister of Court "said that he would study this". Thei
Foreigi Office, in view of the fact that negotiations are
now again proceeding rapidly, and that the next meeting;
is to be on the 27th March, have asked demi-officially
that we should let them have a very early reply to
to'
their letter of the 18th March, g£> that, if we agree,
they *.^1 telegraph in the sense of the draft enclosed
therein, instead of sending instructions by mail.
4. It ^11 be remembered that in the course of
the discussions prior to the signature by His Majesty’s
Government of the Optional Clause, this Department felt!
considerable doubts as to whether undue risks to our
interests - more particularly in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and !
possibly in Tibet - were not involved in sigiature, uU^.uvt^ ^ A
From our point of view it mi$it, no doubt, be desirable
that Persia should not sig^i it. But it seems quite
impossible to ask the Foreign Office either to suggest
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this to Sir Robert Clive or to hint in any way that
we do not consider our position as adequately safeguarded
by the reservations to the Clause which have publicly
been accepted by His Majesty’s Government. Moreover, it
is arguable that, from our point of view, we might be
in a stronger position even if Persia wore to sigi the
Optional Clause than if we were to have an arbitration
agreement with her in the extensive terns desired by the
Minister of Court. In these circumstances, I suggest that
v r e may concur in the Foreigi Office proposal, and a drafjt
letter in this sense is submitted. [/$.^