'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.' [‎187r] (378/386)

115
thin" he wants is a rupture with Persian Government, so long as ho can avoid
it 'jlnd an assurance not personal to himself but in his capacity as the Chief
of Arabs could have been devised, which would make it impossible for him to
force our hands.
Mv idea would he to write to Sheikh a letter promising good offices, etc ,
in general terms, between Persia and himself, reminding him that his agent
had said he was not afraid of Shah, but had asked if we should forcibly inter
fere in protecting Mohammerah, if the ships of foreign Power (or Russia alone
if preferred) attacked it, whether as an enemy or as a pretended Inend of
Persia, and stating that in this case we should do so, provided, however, that
his actions in the past had been and continued to be guided by our advice. I
have told him already that we cannot pro'ect him m same form, as we regard
Mm as Persian subject: To Grand Vizier 1 would say, should Persian Govern
ment disregarding our views, adopt any measures towards Arabs which were
likely to disturb peace and trade ou lower Karim, we reserved our rights to
take^uch naval action at Molimmerah as we considered to be required by our
interests.
I hardly think that we can say less to either party if we wish our w ords
to have any effect.
I shall send Sheikh a present of a rifle and money.
80
Telegram, dated the 4th December 1902.
p rom —The Secretary of State, London,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Calcutta.
Please refer to your Foreign—Secret telegram of the 26th November.
foreign Dower, vhatet er pre faithful to the Shah and acts in accordance
promise ™ S The
r? interviewf e you propose holding to [? with] Grand Vizier seems suitable,
JSk d& .
81
No. 27 (Secret-Frontier), dated Fort William, the 4th February 1904.
From-The Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To-The Bight Hon’blh St. John Bhodhich, Hie Majesty's Secretary of State for
India.
• • • * *
* *
, oi i^mnrkfi in the papers submitted to us with which we
There are several remarks V-L we on i y mention here, because
, not find ourselves in agreemen , tliey 0X p re ss affects to a large
e acceptance or rejection We do not at all agree
:tent the conclusions at wlncb it is possxbk to ^ occupy a ^ ort
tat, if Great ^ rltani Germany ‘ France and Turkey would necessarily
• ports m the Persian Gult, (jc . the p ers iadi Gulf bears little or
• naturally do the same. f pechfli: and there is not the same
3 resemblance to that ^ the re was in the latter quarter. We
rnoT^aware ofany auUiontatiVc ground for the belief that, if Great Britain