‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎463r] (924/949)

7
On 5th May 1903, the Marquis of Lansdowne in the House of Lords made
the following speech, dealing with Bdtish interests in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (vide
the Times of 6 th May 1903) :—
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“ I now pass to the closely-connected subject of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I feel sure that the
noble lord’s interest in the Baghdad railway scheme was because he felt it did closely affect our
interest in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I do not yield to the noble lord in the interest which I take in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , or in the feeling that this country stands with regard to the navigation of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in a position different from that of any other power. The noble lord told
your lordships with absolute truth it was owing to British enterprise, to the expenditure of
British lives and money, that the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is at this moment open to the navigation of the
world. It was our ships that cleared those waters of pirates; it was we who put down the slave
trade ; it was we who buoyed and beaconed those intricate waters. Well, at this moment, out
of a total trade in the Gulf ports of £3,600,000—the figures are those for 1901 ; we have none
later—£2,300,000 represents the commerce of this country ; so that it is clear that, up to the
present, at all events, we have succeeded in preserving a liberal share of that commerce. But
there is no doubt that in the Gulf, as in other parts of Persia, we are feeling very keenly the
competition of other powers. That, I am afraid, is our fate not only in Persian waters; nor
can we expect, because we have been in the development of commerce throughout the world
the pioneers of that form of civilization, that we shall always be able to maintain the position
of superiority which we at first enjoyed. The noble lord asked me for a statement of our
policy with regard to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I think I can give him one in a few simple words.
It seems to me that our policy should be directed, in the first place, to protect and promote
British trade in those waters. In the next place, I do not think that he suggests, or that we
should suggest, that those efforts should be directed towards the exclusion of the legitimate
trade of other powers. (Hear, hear) In the third place—I say it without hesitation—we
should regard the establishment of a naval base or of a fortified port in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by
any other power as a very grave menace to British interests, and we should certainly resist it
with all the means at our disposal, (Cheers.) I say that in no minatory spirit, because, so
far as I am aware, no proposals are on foot for the establishment of a foreign naval base in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . I at least have heard of none; and I cannot help thinking that the noble lord
waxed almost unnecessarily warm at the idea of such a foreign intrusion, with which, so far as
as I am aware, we are not at present threatened. Well, the noble lord then touched upon a
series of points connected with our commercial interests in the Gulf.
“ I will take the navigation of the Karun river. That was opened in 1888. I was in
India at the time, and I well remember the satisfaction with which Sir Drummond Wolff’s
achievement on that occasion in procuring the opening of the river to navigation was regarded
both in India and at home. The trade of the Karun, although it has not increased perhaps as
much as might have been anticipated, has increased considerably; and the lion’s share of it is
ours. I see that in 1897 the trade was only £26,000, whereas in 1900 it had risen to over
£1,000.000. The noble lord (Lamington) spoke of the difficulties encountered by our traders
owing to the customs arrangements on the Karun. I do not know whether I quite followed
what he said on th§ subject, but, I may tell your lordships, that the position is this. We were
originally led by the Persian Government to expect that three custom-houses would be main
tained on the Karun, one at Mohammerah, the second at Ahwaz, and the third at Shuster. It
appears that lately the Persian customs authorities determined to do away with inland custom
houses, and consequently two of these were threatened with suppression. Well, persons
interested in foreign trade naturally protested. It was a great inconvenience to them that
goods destined for one of the upper ports should have to be taken out of the ship’s hold at
Mohammerah and there examined. Representations were made to the Persian Government;
and I am glad to say that the result has been that temporary arrangements have been made,
or are about to be made, under which our traders will be given customs facilities at these three
ports as was originally intended ”.
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