‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎496v] (42/112)

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which Hia Imperial Majesty the Shah alienated
to a foreign power his control over the customs
revenue of his southern ports. It would be an
alienation of His Imperial Majesty’s sovereign
right to which Her Majesty’s Government are
entitled to object.”
The Mushir-ed-Dowleh on October 23rd,
1897, replied to this note in a communi
cation of which the English translation in
the archives of the Legation runs as fol
lows :—
“You have written that there was a rumour
that the customs of Southern Persia would be
placed under foreign supervision and control as
guarantee for a loan. I therefore take this occasion
of informing the Legation that this rumour is
without foundation, and that they will never be
placed under foreign supervision and control.”
This assurance Mr. Hardinge regarded
as satisfactory. The actual Persian text,
however, which is the only one which the
Persian Government would regard as bind
ing on itself, is a little less lacking in pre
cision and translated literally it runs :—
“This that you had written it has been rumour
ed that some (or ‘ certain ’) South Persian customs
are being placed under foreign supervision and
control against the amount of a foreign loan has
been brought to notice, and it has been deemed
necessary to bring to the notice of the respected
Legation that the rumour is completely without
foundation, and under foreign supervision and
control” [they (this pronoun is understood, but
does not actually figure iu the text)] “ never will
be placed.”
The difference is material, for, if now the
Persian Government are driven to a precise
definition of the expression “ Ears and
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,*’ the customs of which
have been given as security for the British
loan of l'J03, it has been suggested
that they might lay stress upon the
fact that the pledge of 1897 had refer
ence to some or certain in contradistinction
to all of the South Persian customs ; and
thus argue that Mohammerah, for instance,
is excluded from the security of the
British loan and included in that of the
Russian loan.
3. A month later—November 1897—
Mr. Hardinge reported that the Per
sian Ministers were negotiating a Dutch
loan on the security of the southern
customs, and intended to reconcile their
action with the above assurance by a
declaration that, as their payment would
never be in arrears, the control and super
vision which they had promised us not to
part with would never become effective ;
in other words, that they were free to
pledge the southern customs so long as
they did not actually cede them.
This is a contention which might pos
sibly he revived to meet the objection
Secret E., February 1898, Nos. 1-23, Proceeding
No 12.
Despatch No- 69, dated Tehran, 14th May 1903,
from Sir A. Hard'mge to Lord Lansdowne.
Secret E., July 11)03, Nos. 173-187, Enclosure 1,
Proceeding No. 180.
November 1897.
Secret E., February 1898, Nos. 1-23, Procesding
No. 18.