'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎153v] (311/386)

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3. I wish, however, to draw attention to the parenthetical account of the
arrangements for the ceremonial vhit in the extract marked (3) and under
lined in red, of which a literal translation is attrohed. The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. here
distinctly states that it was arranged that, after landing opposite the Govern
ment House or Charburj. I should sec and visit the Ala ed-Dowleh first, and
that he should then return my visit at the British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . Subsequently the
words “his Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. *’ have been scored out, and “the Amirieh building’*
entered with a pen between the lines. If it is true that the article was
inspired by the Ala-ed-Dowleh, the deliberate falsehood here told as to the
arrangements in the programme seems to des rvo attention. In any case, this
note clearly establishes two things—(1) that the loml Persian officials wen*
determined to make out that I was to pay the first visit to the Governor-General
of Pars, and (2) that there was no real objection to his calling on me at the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , provided that I had paid the first visit.
4. The orders received from the Shah that the Ala-ed-Dowleh was not to
call upon me in any circumstances at the Bcsidency are, therefore, inexpli
cable, and the attempt wdiich has been made by the Persian Government to
allege that I declined to carry out the pre-arranged programme is a subterfuge. *
The allegation made by the I ersian Minister to the Marquess of Lansdowne,
as reported in a telegram from the latter to Mr. Grant IhiiT, So. 112, dated tho
9th December 1903, that I insisted on the Ala-ed-Dowleh coming on hoard to
meet me and conduct me on shore as a condition of my landing is absolutely
untrue, and I concur in the opinion
• Copy enciowd. expressed by Sir A. Hardinge in his
despatch • No. 10 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ), dated
the 15th December 1903, to tho Foreign Ollice (which, owing: to the want of
time to make two copies before the departure of the mail, he forwarded through
us to the Marquess of Lansdowne) that for this the Ala-ed- Dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. leh should
' certainly be called to account.
No. 10, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
My Lord,
Enclosure to 17.
Basrah ;
loM December 1903.
A repetition of Your Lordship’s telegram of tho 9th instant, giving tho
substance of a communication from the Persian Minister in London respecting
the Viceroy’s visit, only reached me on my arrival here yesterday, and wilf,
I hope, have been fully answered by the one which 1 have’ bad the honour to
address to you this morning.
It is of course true that Mr. Grant Duff accepted on behalf of the Viceroy
in an official note a residence on shore on Bnshire. AVhat the Persian Gov
ernment, however, actually offered His Lxcellcncy was first a house not
“at Bushire,” but 5 miles.off, to proceed to which for a brief official ceremony
would have entailed very great inconvenience and Joss of time, and afterwards
a room in the house occupied by their own representative. Tho offer of tho
“ Amirieh,” w hich is now occupied by some officials of the Customs, if originally
made would have been accepted without difficulty, but it was only suggested at
the very last moment, when the A iceroy had formally asked for and been
curtly refused the visit at the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. first proposed by me aud agreed to bv
the Persians. 3 J I
I have telegraphed to Mr. Grant Duff to ascertain on what authority the
Persian Government informed tho Ala es-Sultaneh that the Viceroy, besides
insisting on the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. visit, had declined to land unless the Ala ed-Dowleh
“ like the Islam of Maskat ” first went on board his ship. If this statement,
which is absolutely false, can be traced to the Ala-ed- Dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. leh it would confirm
the insinuations made to me by certaiu Pers : an officials who are not his best