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Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎293v] (598/961)

The record is made up of 1 volume (476 folios). It was created in 1 May 1933-15 Mar 1935. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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4. There are two points of detail to which I would draw your attention.
It is hoped that in the near future Persia will not be in a position to claim
control over any part of the Rookah Channel. If you refer to Chart No. 1235,
you will observe a shaded patch north of the word £ £ Hor liable to dry at certain
tides and thus to be claimed, so I understand, as a Persian island. Colonel Ward
has informed me that this patch is being washed away by the combined tidal
streams and river current which, by the gradual silting up of the western channel
and the extension of the Abdullah Bank, are being canalised down the Rookah
Channel. In fact, I understand that this patch has almost altogether
disappeared, which, of course, means the pushing back to low-water mark on the
mainland of the point from which the 3-mile limit would be measured. This
would keep the whole of the Rookah Channel outside Persian territorial waters.
One cannot, nevertheless, rely on this state of affairs continuing indefinitely, such
are the vagaries of the river current. The dredging service is only too familiar
with the constant and rapid formation of sandbanks at places least expected.
5. The second minor point, to which I would draw your attention, also
refers to the river bed. In paragraph 7 of your despatch under reference it is
stated that £ £ Persia possesses sovereignty over the waters of the Shatt-el-Arab
up to the medium filum aquce (or at least up to the thalweg) at and above the
junction of the Karun.” If you will refer to p. 150 of the Recueil des
Proces-verbaux des Seances de la Commission de Delimitation de la Frontiere
turco-yersane (tableau descriptif ....), you will observe that from Touweidjat
to ££ borne No. 2,” which comprises the section of the river in question, the
frontier is drawn along the medium fdum aquae. Now, according to the latest
information in my possession, derived from Colonel Ward, the present thalweg,
which is after all the only thing that matters where shipping is concerned, is on
the Iraqi side of the medium filum aquae. So the position here does not seem so
unfavourable to Iraq as would appear, although the Persians will no doubt try
to make conditions as difficult as possible.
6. A copy of this despatch is being sent to His Majesty’s Ambassador at
Angora and to His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran.
I have, &c.
G. OGILVIE-FORBES.
/I

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Content

The volume contains papers regarding relations between Persia [Iran] and Iraq. It primarily concerns the frontier delineated by the 1913-1914 Boundary Commission, in particular Persian claims over areas of the Shatt el-Arab, and rights to oilfields in the Naft Khana [Naft Khāna] or Khaniqin [Khāniqīn]area. The papers document renewed negotiations over the border, and include discussion of the following topics: Iraqi concerns over Persian military activities conducted in Iraq; Persia's refusal to recognise the validity of the 1914 Frontier Delimitation Protocol; attempts to redraw the frontier at the Shatt el-Arab along the thalweg [valley way], as opposed to the medium filum aquae ; proposals to revive the Shatt el-Arab Conservancy Board Scheme; and proposals for an agreement to regulate the exploitation of the oilfields in the transferred territories on the frontier near Khanqin, including the proposed creation of a special zone. These papers primarily consist of correspondence between the following: HM Ambassadors at Baghdad, Teheran and Italy; the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Political Department; the Foreign Office (principally Sir John Simon, and J C Sterndale-Bennet); the Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs; and the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In 1935 the Iraqi Government formally raised the question of the frontier with the Council of the League of Nations, and sought a Court ruling as to the validity of the 1914 Boundary Protocol. The Italian delegate to the League (Baron Pompeo Aloisi) was designated Rapporteur to the negotiations, and the volume contains correspondence between the Foreign Office and HM Ambassador in Rome, regarding a proposed Italo-Iraqi Treaty of Friendship, proposals regarding the frontier made by Aloisi, and general Italian influence over Iran and Iraq. The volume also includes copies of memoranda and minutes circulated by the League, in addition to correspondence regarding the negotiations in Geneva and Italy, and documents from the Committee of Imperial Defence Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East.

The volume includes a divider giving a list of correspondence references found in the volume by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence (folio 1).

Extent and format
1 volume (476 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in rough chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 472; these numbers are written in pencil and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The front and back covers, along with the two leading and two ending flyleaves, have not been foliated.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 17/15(1) 'Perso-Iraq Relations: Persia-Iraq frontier; Persia's claim in the Shatt-el-Arab' [‎293v] (598/961), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2869, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100074341459.0x0000c7> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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