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Manuscript of Persia and the Persian Question (Continued) [‎327r] (653/690)

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The record is made up of 1 file (218 folios). It was created in 1890. It was written in English. 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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---is to be found a vast and, 1
as yet, almost untilled field, whoso features give
promise of abundant return, and in whichyspxperi-
ments have already feogww^e );c made. K moral
progress is not yet to be expected from the people
themselves, material progress, instituted by
others, may facilitate its advent, and Persia ifiay
eventually be compelled to take an interest in her
self by observing the interest which others take'
in her. * -
r-
</Cc c<~e.^t
/ ^
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j r ^ ^ me jjj this
century has it been, one of territorial acquisition.
England does not covet one square foot of Persian
soil. The eighth and tenth Commandments stand
in no danger of being violated by us. In tlie war
of 1856-7 British forces captured and for a short
time held both BushLre and Karak Island, in the
Gulf, and Mohammerah and Ahwaz on the Ivarun.
It would have been easy to have established a j
permanent foot-hold in the Gulf, and to have
settled the Kanin question for all time by retaining
these positions. Being guiltless, however, of
hostile intentions,we gave them up. The Persians
themselves,who had fully expected at least to lose
Bushire,were bewildered at our clemency,and have
come in timeto believe thattheyoustedus by superior
force. But the action remains an indisputable
evidence of pacific purpose and may appositely be
contrasted with the Russian tactics at Ashmada,in
the North. Of the true character of British policy
towards Persia a better description cannot be
supplied than that which was given by Lord
Salisbury in his speech at the Guildhall banquet
to the Shah in kst July
TT^We watch with intense interest and sympathy the
' policy which ftiia Majesty has inaugurated in Persia
, j foe wish lor it the greatest possible development.
We wish the highest possible stage of prosperity f-qr
himself and his people. We hope that those communi
cations with the outer world which are the condition
of prosperity in this age will increase and multiply
in his country ; and we desire above all things that
Persia shall not only be prosperous, but be strong—
strong in her resources, strong in her preparations,
strong in her alliances—in order that she may pursue
the peaceful path on which she has entered in security
and tranquillity. And we entreat our illustrious guest
tb believe that in seeking this commercial as well as
political friendship we are asking for no exclusive 1
privileges for ourselves. . . . We are urging upon j
nim no friendship with us that shall end In any of the
exploits or desires of aggression or of war. All that ;
we desire are those acquisitions which are achieved j
by industry and by enterprise, and which carry a
common reward, not to one nation, but to all nations
world.
In other words, the development of the industrial
and material resources of Persia, the extension of
her commerce, the maintenance of her integrity,
the rehabilitation of her strength—these, under
the pressure and by the aid of a friendly alliance,
are the objects of British policy. The time for an
offensive and defensive alliance has passed.
Early in this century England might with less
risk and with possible advantage have taken such
a step. But the opportunity vanished with the
events that led up to Turkomanchai, and with the
drying of the ink that installed Russia in a posi
tion of permanent superiority on tho north. Any
such engagement now might implicate us in war-

About this item

Content

This file contains sections of the handwritten manuscript of the book Persia and the Persian Question by George Nathaniel Curzon. These papers come as part of the full handwritten draft of the book that comprises the shelfmarks Mss Eur F111/30-32. The printed edition of the book can be found in the file with the shelfmark Mss Eur F111/33.

Eventually published in 1892, the papers in this file cover the ancient and modern history, geography, and social and political aspects of Persia during the late nineteenth century when George Curzon temporarily lived in Persia. The manuscript also discusses the Russian and British presence in Persia and the author's views on the two countries' respective strategies in the country. The papers also include some of George Curzon's own travel writing while in Persia.

Extent and format
1 file (218 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged by chapter as part of a handwritten manuscript.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-220) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 221-345); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-344; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Manuscript of Persia and the Persian Question (Continued) [‎327r] (653/690), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/32, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100076276761.0x000036> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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