‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎478v] (6/112)

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5. No further declaration is traceable 1373.
until 1873, when the continued advance
of Russia in Central Asia led to an inter
change of views with respect to that
region between the British and Russian
Governments. It was reported in London
and credited at Tehran that the solution
of the question between England and
Russia included a declaration by the latter
recognizing the integrity of Persia; and
the bhah s Government endeavoured to Secret Proceeding*, April 1S74, No«. 116-146^
obtain through the British Government a ^oceedmg No. ui.
formal pronouncement on the subject
from Russia, with a view to communicat
ing it to other powers as an additional
guarantee for her integrity. The Sadr
Azam, then in London with the Shah,
begged Lord Granville to inform him offi
cially as to what had passed between the
two powers affecting his country. There
upon Lord Granville addressed the Sadr
Azam in the following terms:—
Earl Granville to Sadr Azam. llid No 144
Foreign Office, July 2, 1873.
“Your Highness, in your letter of the 30th June,
has expressed a wish to be made acquainted offi
cially with what may have passed between Great
Britain and Russia in regard to the maintenance of
the integrity of Persia. I have the honour, in
reply, to state to Your Highness that, although no
formal treaty or agreement exists by which the
two countries mutually agree to respect the integ
rity of Persia, yet that, in the year 1834, an under
standing was arrived at between the two Govern
ments on the occasion of the nomination of
Muhammad Mirza as successor to the throne of
Persia. That understanding was based on the
sincere desire of the two Governments to main
tain, not only the internal tranquillity, but also
the independence and integrity of Persia, and in
the year 1S38 Count Nesselrode adverted to the
agreement entered into by the two Governments as
still subsisting in full force, as it was also acknow
ledged to do by Her Majesty's Secretary of State
ior Foreign Affairs.
“ Her Majesty's Government, as they recognize
for themselves the principles which guided the
general policy of Great Britain and Russia in
favour of the independence and integrity of Persia
in the year 1834, have reason to believe, from
information which they have received from Lord
Loftus, Her Majesty’s Ambassador at St. Peters
burg, that the Russian Government refer with
satisfaction to the mutual assurances which were
made on this subject in 1834 and 1838. Her
Majesty's Government consider that the best mode
of confirming both powers in those sentiments is,
that Persia, while steadily maintaining her rights
as an independent power, should studiously fulfil
in all respects her treaty engagements with each,
and so insure the continuance of the friendship
which both powers, even for their own interests,
should desire to maintain with her."
Count Brunnow also was told of the
communication which had been made to
the Persian Government at which he ex
pressed his satisfaction, as will be seen