Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎227r] (464/961)

limits of Basra and Abbadan Reach. These facilities were used by the Persian vessels for a
few months until, on June ^3rd, 1933, Captain McLeod, Harbour-Master of the Port of
Basra, who, in the normal course of his duties, had boarded the Persian ship Palana was
arrested and sent to Munammara, where he was detained for seven days. In reply to the
protests against this outrage on one of its officials in Iraqi waters, the following replv was
received by the Iraqi Minister at Teheran from the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs :
Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Bis Excellency Towfiq Beg Buwaidi Iraqi
Minister in Teheran, No. 13164, dated July 3rd, 1933.
[Translation.]
“ Monsieur le Ministre Plenipotentiaire,
“ In reply to your letter ISTo. 1242 regarding the arrest of McLeod by the Persian
Naval Forces in Southern Persia, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that :
“ (1) The harbour of Abbadan belongs to Persian territory. The appointment
of a harbour-master by the Iraqi Government is, therefore, contrary to
international decisions and practice. Since I imagine, or rather am convinced,
that Your Excellency has made a mistake in preparing your letter under reference,
I have reminded you of this in order to prevent fruitless misunderstanding between
the two Governments.
“ (2) It appears from reports received by me from the competent authorities
that while the vessel Palang, which belongs to the Imperial Persian Government,
was cruising in Persian waters in the Shatt-al-Arab and proceeding towards the
Persian bank, the said McLeod suddenly went on board without obtaining
permission. Since it is strictly forbidden for persons to go on board Persian ships
without permission, the naval authorities in Southern Persia concerned arrested
him and then released him after explaining his error to him.
" I therefore particularly request Your Excellency that strict instructions may be
issued to all officials concerned of the Iraqi Government to refrain from committing
such illegal actions, so that misunderstanding in this matter may be avoided.”
In the meantime the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs had addressed to the Persian
Legation on May 13th, June 13th and July 11th, 1933, notes detailing the manner to which
the Persian ships had disobeyed port rules and ignored the Port Authority, protesting
against the consequent infringement of Iraqi sovereignty over the Shatt-al-Arab, and
inviting the Persian Government to instruct its officials to comply with the rules.
Finally, the following reply was received to the third of these notes, which had reference
in particular to the movements of the Persian ship Simurgh on June 19th :
“ Persian Legation to the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, No. 1968, of
August 22nd, 1933.
“ The Imperial Persian Legation at Baghdad has the honour to reply to the note
of the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs No. 6376, of July 11th, 1933, regarding a
complaint against the warship Simurgh and to inform them that the ersian v
are in no need of the assistance of the Harbour-Master of Ba.sra and j a
they do not require to employ him at all. Furthermore, any discussmn o
is quite useless until the negotiations with the Iraqi Goyernmen or
of the question of the Shatt-al-Arab and the delimitation of the boundaries there betw ee
the two States are finally ended.”
The irregular activities of the Persian departments of Customs and Police increased
after the arrival of the Persian war-vessels. No useful purpose characteristic
reproducing the voluminous correspondence that has resulte , f rom Abbadan
case may be mentioned. On March 25th, 1933, the Persian Customs otto al from Abbadan
went across to the floating dock of the Anglo-Persian Oil P ^ i was received
searched it and confiscated a quantity of piece-goods. The following p y
to the Iraqi protest :
“Persian Legation to the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, So. 3178, of
October 1st, 1933.
[Translation.]
£t The Imperial Persian Legation in Baghdad o j 1 and 6378 5 of May^nd/Srd and
notes of the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Nos. 3721 and 6378, of may /