‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎486v] (22/112)

20
Imperial considere que les dispositions prises par
le (iouvernement des Indes constituent une viola
tion du territoire Persan, ce qui est en contradic
tion avec les assurances du Cabinet de St. James
faites en 1 S 88 et r£iterees Fautomne dprnier,
concernant le maintien de Fintegrite et de Finde-
pendence de la Perse.
Ayant ete averti de deux protestations faites par
le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste le Shah au sujet
de la violation du territoire Persan, le Gouverne
ment Imperial de Russie se fait un devoir de
soutenir aupres du Cabinet de St. James les recla
mations de la Perse.”
In making further enquiries on the sub
ject on 29th February 1902, Baron de
Graevenitz told Lord Lansdowne that he
had been instructed to call attention to
these occurrences in defence of the integ
rity of Persia. Lord Lansdowne’s reply
was as follows
<f I replied that both the British and Russian Secret P., June 1902, Nos. 118-162, Proceeding
Government were bound by international obliga- N°* l 4,1 *
tions to respect the integrity and also the indepen
dence of Persia, and that I was glad to gather
from his statement that we were at one as to
this.”
15. During the Shah’s visit to England
the Marquis of Lansdowne on 18th
August 1902 had a conversation with the
Atabeg-i-Azam at Marlborough House, in
the course of which he held the following
language as reported in his despatch, No.
76-Confidential of the same date to Mr.
des Graz
u I told His Highness that the disposition of Secret E., Much 1903, No*. 261-828, Proceeding
this country towards Persia was certainly friendly, No * 285,
and that we had again and again committed our
selves to the policy of upholding the independence
and integrity of Persia. On the other hand, there
were considerable risks of misunderstanding. We
were essentially a commercial people, and com
mercial interests were largely represented in our
Parliament. Much apprehension had been created
by the prospect of impending changes in the Persian
Customs Tariff, and I had, therefore, heard with
the greatest satisfaction of the assurances which
His Highness had been able to give to Sir A.
Hardinge on the occasion of their recent meeting
at Carlsbad.”
16. On 21st August 1902 during an
interview between Lord Lansdowne and
the Shah himself the question of the integ
rity of Persia was again mentioned. In
his despatch to M. des Graz, No. 77 -Con-
fidential, dated Eoreign Office, August
21st, 1902, His Lordship wrote as fol
lows :—
" His Imperial Majesty then asked me whether secret E., March 1903, Nob. 261-328, Proceeding
he was to understand that His Majesty’s Govern- No. 286.
ment desire! to recognize the independence of
Persia. I said that the recognition of the indepen
dence of Persia had always been a cardinal point
in our policy. We adhered as strongly as ever to
that policy, which we had repeatedly affirmed. Our
special concern was, of course, with the southern
part of Persia and with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and
*