‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎477v] (4/112)

2
to take an opportunity of expressing to the
Russian Government the satisfaction of His
Majesty’s Government at the decision which has
been taken by the Shah of Persia to nominate
Muhammad Mirza as the successor to his throne;
an event which* it is to be hoped, will avert the
danger of civil war in Persia on the next demise
of the crown; and you will also say that His
Majesty’s Government are gratified to find that
the Governments of Great Britain and Russia are
acting, with regard to the affairs of Persia* in the
same spirit* and are equally animated l>y a sincere
desire to maintain, not only the internal tranquil
lity* but also the independence and integrity of
Persia.
« His Majesty’s Government will, at all times,
find a real pleasure in co-operating with that of
Russia for such purposes; and instructions have
been sent to the British Resident at Tehran, to
communicate confidentially with the Russian re
presentative, in furtherance of the common views
of the two Governments.”
3 . Thus matters stood until 1838, when
the East India Company became appre
hensive on account of an expedition which
the Shah had undertaken to conquer
Herat, instigated, as it was believed, by
the Russian Minister at Tehran, as a first
step towards menacing the British posses
sions in India. England, having vainly
attempted to induce the Shah to suspend
hostilities, was compelled to occupy the
island of Kharak, and the Shah made
an appeal to the Emperor. Meanwhile
Lord Palmerston called the attention of
Count Pozzo di Borgo, Russian Ambassa
dor in London, to affairs in Persia and
referred to the understanding of 1834*.
In reply to the note addressed to St.
Petersburg, Count Nesselrode maintained
that the R-ussian Government had done
all in its power to dissuade the Shah from
undertaking the military expedition com
plained of, alluded to the “ happy agree
ment of views and of actions *’ which the
two Governments had so much at heart to
form iu 1834, and forwarded to the
Russian Ambassador in London a copy of
Lord Palmerston’s despatch of 1834, in
order that he might show it to Lord Pal
merston with an assurance that the same
desire which then influenced the Russian
Government to have a friendly under
standing with England upon the affairs of
Persia still existed, and an expression of
regret on the part of Russia that the good
understanding which had existed between
the Court of London and that of Tehran
was disturbed for the time. Lord Pal
merston expressed his entire satisfaction
at receiving this declaration that the
Russian policy with regard to Persia re
mained unchanged, and that it was the
same which the two Powers had agreed
to adopt in 1831. The following extracts
1838.
1 ?
* *