‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎488v] (26/112)

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previous consultation with Russia would
entail the withdrawal of the Emperor as
a guarantor of Persian independence :—
Secret and Confidential Memorandum.
<c Whereas it is our sincere inclination to further
demonstrate our confidence and trust in His Ma
jesty the Emperor, who has always and on every
occasion proved his sincere inclination and affec
tion towards us, and inasmuch as it is our inclina
tion to be always in entire affection and friendship
with His Majesty the Emperor, we have decided
not to give orders or permission to construct rad-
ways and waterways to companies of foreign
nations before consulting with His Majesty the
Emperor, and his advice and consultation will
meet with our consideration, inasmuch as should
those concessions contain an article or clause detri
mental to Persian interests, we can utilize the
Emperor’s consultation and advice in order to
avoid it and protect ourselves against that detri-
ment.”
The Ahwaz-Tehran railway concession
accordingly fell through, but in Septem-
her 1888, the Shah found himself under the
necessity of seeking definite support from
Great Britain,* as an indirect but strong
intimation had been made that Russia
intended to take under her protection the
Tamuts, the only Turcomans still under
Persia, and this meant the occupation of
their lands and pastures by Russia. In
a despatch, dated 5th September 1888, to
the Marquis of Salisbury, Sir H. Drum
mond Wolff reported that the Amin-es-
Sultan had made to him in the name of
the Shah proposals for a formal secret
treaty to be concluded between Her Ma
jesty’s Government and the Shah by
which England should undertake to
protect Persia from attacks on the part of
Russia. The occasion being, therefore, a
favourable one for reopening the question,
on 18th September 1888, Sir H. D. Wolff
left a note with the Arnin-es-Sultan, say
ing that he had been instructed by Her
Majesty’s Secretary of State for Eoreign
Affairs to call the attention of the Per
sian Government to the circumstance
that the assurances and promises made
at different times by the Shah that the
navigation of the Karim would be opened
to the trade of the world had not yet been
carried out, and an official answer was
required as to when the Persian Govern
ment intended to do so. Discussions en
sued, and in explanation of the difficulties
which he felt, the Shah communicated
to the British Minister the Secret and
Confidential Memorandum, dated 18th
September 1S87, which he had given to
Russia. Sir H. D. Wolff was able to
reassure His Majesty that the opening of
the Karun river to the commerce of all
the world was not an act like a concession
Secret E., January 1889, No«. 45-90, Proceeding
No. 76-A.
For the rumoured renewal of this Agreement set
page 34.
• See page 7.
Secret E., January 1889, Nos. 25-29, Proceeding
No. 25.
Secret E., January 1889, Nos. 15 90, Proceeding
No. 68 .
Ibid, Proceeding No. 75.