‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎498r] (45/112)

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to see me, and he read to me the following tele
gram from the Marquis of Salisbury
“ Tell the Sadr-Azam that in view of our en
deavours to assist the Persian Government to
obtain a loan we expect of her to inform us of the
conditions which she may make with others for
the purposes of a loan before any arrangement is
definitely concluded ; and you are also desired to
renew the plain warning which has been formally
given more than once to the effect that we shall
resist any arrangement for intrusting to a foreign
Government the control of the customs of the
south of Persia.”
This telegram, and another the Persian
Minister in London communicated to Lord
Salisbury on 31st March as appears from
the following : —
The Mabquis of Salisbury to Sir M. Durand.
Foreign Office, 7th April 1809.
(No. 10.)
(Telegraphic)
Your telegram No. 18.
E ‘' Jaly 18 ° 9, N0 *’ 255 75> Froc ‘ felling “ Persian Minister called at Foreign Office 31st
March, and communicated two telegrams from
Sadr-Azam, which were to the same effect as the
message through you, though the refusal to com
municate conditions of the loan is less positively
expressed.
“ I have replied to the following effect
“ We much regret that it is not in our power to
aid Persia more effectively in the matter of the
loan, for ever} thing that concerns the prosperity
of Persia is a matter of great interest to us.
“ But we have also our own political interests to
look to ; and those interests are not compatible
with the exercise of any control or jurisdiction by
a European Power over the ports on the Persian
Gulf. We renew to the Persian Government this
intimation which we have more than once given
before ; and we shall communicate it to any persona
who may be disposed to rely on a control over
these ports as a financial security.”
Sir M. Durand replied :—
Sir M. Durand to the Marquis op
Salisbury.
Tehran, 8th April 1899.
Hid, Proceeding No. 2G3. (No. 21.)
(Telegraphic.)
Your Lordship's telegram No. 10.
“ Presuming that omission of reference to Ker-
manshah is intentional, I have communicated
Your Lordship's reply to Sadr-Azam.”
It will he observed that the phrase used
by Lord Salisbury, and presumably repeat-
o. , T _. ,, . . . .. . j. ed by the British Minister in communicat-
Sir M. Durands actual communication to the . T-r*x i i - t
Persian Government is not on our records. tng LLlS Lordship S message tO the 1 6I*SlCin
Government, was “ the ports on the Persian
Gulf,” a new variation which obviously
might be interpreted in a much narrower
sense than tf Southern Persia ” or 11 the