‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎479r] (7/112)

5
(S5>
\
4
♦
Hcrtslet’i (Persian) Treaties, page 213.
1874.
Ibid, page 214.
1884.
from the following extract from a despatch
addressed by Earl Granville to Her Ma
jesty’s Ambassador at St. Petersburg on
lOth July 1873 :—
Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus.
Foreign Office, July 10, 1873.
(Extract.)
“ I also informed Count de Brunnow, as be had
broached the subject of the Shah's visit, that the
Persians had inquired as to the nature of the
engagements which subsisted between Great Britain
and Russia as to the integrity of the Persian
territory, and that I had told the Grand Vizier
that, although no formal treaty or agreement
existed by which the two countries mutually
agreed to respect the integrity of Persia, yet that
in the year 1834 an understanding was arrived at
between the two Governments on the occasion of the
nomination of Muhammad Mirza as successor to
the throne of Persia; that that understanding was
based on the sincere desire of the two Governments
to maintain, not only the internal tranquillity, but
also the independence and integrity, of Persia; that
in the year 1838 Count Nesselrode adverted to the
agreement entered into by the two Governments
as still subsisting in full force, as it was also ac
knowledged to do by Her Majesty's Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, and that Her Majesty’s
Government, as they recognized for themselves
the principles which guided the general policy of
Great Britain and Russia in favour of the inde
pendence and integrity of Persia in the year 1834,
had reason to believe, from information which
they had received from Lord A. Loftus, Her
Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, that
the Russian Government referred with satisfaction
to the mutual assurances which were made on
this subject in 1884 and in 1838; and that Her
Majesty’s Government considered that the best
mode of confirming both powers in those sen
timents was that Persia, while steadily maintain
ing her rights as an independent Power, should
studiously fulfil in all respects her treaty engage
ments with each, and so insure the continuance
of the friendship which both powers, even for
their own interests, should desire to maiutain with
her.
“ Count de Brunnow expressed satisfaction."
6 . On 23rd December 1874, M. de
Westmann, the Russian Acting Minister
for Foreign Affairs, again assured Her
Majesty’s Ambassador at St. Petersburg
that he fully admitted the continued
existence of the understanding arrived at
in 1834 and 1838.
7. But the policy of Russian frontier
officials does not always correspond to the
pacific professions of the Central Govern
ment, and Russian advances continued un
til the summer of 1884, when the probable
occupation of old Sarakhs, which was
claimed by Persia, caused the Shah con
siderable alarm, and led him to question
the value of the assurances given to him in
1873 and to enquire whether Her Majes
ty’s Government would support his re
monstrances and a formal protest if made
at St. Petersburg.