Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎234v] (479/961)

2. The frontier between Iraq and Persia is derived from the Treaty of
Erzerum of 1847 (Appendix I),( 2 ) and a protocol signed at Constantinople on the
4th November, 19(3T by the Grand Vizier and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Ottoman Empire and the Ambassador of Persia, on behalf of the two parties, and
by the Ambassadors of Great Britain and Russia, on behalf of their respective
countries in the capacity of mediating Powers. Section V of this protocol
specifically laid down that as soon as any part of the frontier had been delimited '
by the Delimitation Commission to be set up in accordance with section II, that
part should be held to have been finally fixed and should not be open either to
subsequent examination or to revision. The delimitation of the frontier on the
ground provided for in section II was carried out by this commission in the year
1914. A print containing the Protocol of 1913 and the Proceedings of the
Commission of 1914 is attached as Appendix II.f)
3. In spite of the legal position as outlined above, the Imperial Persian
Government have consistently disregarded and violated the frontier so established.
A summary of some of the more flagrant acts of aggression, with copies of the
relevant correspondence, is attached (Appendix III). As will be seen from this
correspondence, the Imperial Persian Government attempt to justify their
conduct on the ground that they do not recognise the validity of the frontier and
do not consider themselves bound by the arrangements by which it was determined.
This view the Royal Iraqi Government are unable to accept.
4. The Royal Iraqi Government has hitherto been loath to formulate
publicly a complaint against a neighbour and fellow member of the League of
Nations. It has left nothing undone in its endeavour to settle the matters at
issue direct with the Imperial Persian Government. As will be seen from the
correspondence, the numerous conciliatory proposals which it has made, whether
for the investigation by joint commissions of particular problems affected by the
precise alignment of the frontier, or for the general examination of all causes of
inconvenience to either side arising from that alignment, with a view to
eliminating the inconvenience by appropriate administrative arrangements, have
been consistently rejected or ignored.
5. The continuance of the state of affairs described in the preceding
paragraphs cannot fail to disturb the good understanding between Iraq and
Persia which Iraq so earnestly desires. With great regret, therefore, the Royal
Iraqi Government sees no alternative but to bring the circumstances to the
attention of the Council under article 11, paragraph 2, of the Covenant.
6. I have the honour accordingly to request that you will be so good as to
cause this matter to be placed on the agenda for consideration by the Council at
its next session.
7. A copy of this letter, with the appendices, is being communicated
simultaneously to the Imperial Persian Government.
[Appendices I and II not printed.]
Appendix III to Enclosure.
(A) —The Shatt-el-Arab.
THE protocol of 1913 contains a clear and unambiguous description of the
boundary on the Shatt-el-Arab :—
££ De ce point [i.e., from the mouth of the Nazaile canal] la f ron ^' e ^
suit le cours du Chatt-el-Arab jusqu’d la mer en laissant sous la souverain
ottomane le fleuve et toutes les lies qui s’y trouventT
There are two exceptions : The ownership by Persia of certain named
and the continuance of the modern port and anchorage of Mohammera
Persian jurisdiction. i- n2S
A detailed description of the boundary line is embodied in the P l( b ce ^
of the second sitting of the Delimitation Commission and reproduce ^
Tableau descriptif de la Liqne-Frentiere annexed to the proceedings,
( a ) Not printed.