Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎154r] (318/961)

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY-OF HIS-BRITftNqiC M AJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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January 18, 1935.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
No. 1.
[E 376/32/34]
United Kingdom Delegate to Foreign Office.—(Received January 18.)
(No. 7.)
THE United Kingdom delegate to the League of Nations presents his
compliments, and has the honour to transmit copy of a note by Mr. Sterndale-
Bennett respecting a conversation with Mr. Edmonds on the 12th January on
the subject of the Perso-Iraqi frontier.
United Kingdom Delegation,
Geneva, January 14, 1935.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Note by Mr. Sterndale-Bennett respecting a Conversation with Mr. Edmonds on
the subject of the Perso-Iraqi Frontier.
Activities of Tevfik Rii§tu.
Mr. EDMONDS came in this evening to talk generally on procedure in
connexion with the above question, and after a discussion regarding the choice
of a rapporteur, he said that Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. wished me to know that he had seen the
Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs this afternoon. Tevfik ftu§tu had
enquired why Iraq persisted in referring the question of the validity of the
existing frontier to the Council. Why should Iraq not agree to a redefinition
of the frontier in an entirely new instrument with Persia which would not
mention the 1913 protocol, or the 1914 demarcation or the Treaty of Erzerum,
thus following the course which Turkey and Persia had followed as regards their
own common frontier? Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had adopted a cautious attitude and had
asked whether Tevfik Rii^tii meant that the 1914 frontier should, in fact, be laid
down absolutely unchanged in a new instrument. Tevfik Ru§tii had indicated
that this was his meaning, though he admitted that the Perso-Turkish Agreement
had departed in one or two particulars from the 1914 frontier. Nuri had then
asked how Tevfik Ru§tii , s suggestion would be applied in the case of the Shatt-el-
Arab. Surely it would not be possible to get the Persians to agree to the frontier
running as it did now, i.e., along the low-water line on the left (Persian) bank ?
Tevfik Ru§tu said that he thought the Persians might be prepared to accept even
this, simply retaining for themselves a “ droit de profit.’ In reply to an enquiry
by Nuri, Tevfik R/ii§tu said that by this term he meant the right of using the
water of the Shatt for drinking and irrigation and the right of navigation.
Nuri Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. continued to show scepticism as to whether the idea of redefining
the frontier unchanged would prove practicable and indicated that it would neer
an actual draft agreement to convince him. He said at the same D// 16 Ty 0
course, if the Persians were to produce a draft, he naturally would no e so
churlish as to refuse to consider it. . , ,
Tevfik Ru§tu indicated that he intended to take the mattei up wi
Porsiciiis
Mr. Edmonds thought that this was a sign that the Persians were, in fact,
weakening, but he agreed with me that it would be a tactical mis a e
Iraqis to agree to the matter being withdrawn from consideration by the Eoimcd
unless and until a satisfactory instrument had been drawn up an ^
signed. We agreed that it would be well to let matters take ^eir course, as^even
if the Council decided to seek an advisory opinion from & ’ i • n 0 f‘a
to The Hague could presumably be cancelled at any time i
new agreement rendered it unnecessary. j c sterndale _bENNETT.
Geneva, January 12, 1935.