‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎500v] (50/112)

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desire to take in the south which may affect British
interests. I am afraid that if some sudden action,
affecting the interests and trade of Great Britain
in the south of Persia, is announced without
previous information being given to Her Majesty’s
Government, the effect on public opinion in Eng
land is likely to be bad. * * To avoid misun
derstanding * * Lord Salisbury has clearly and
plainly laid down what is the point of view of our
Government/’
Me. Spring-Rice, Tehran, dated the 4th April
1900.
No. 50. Your Lordship’s telegram No. 31, Mo- - T Se ^ et ^ une ^ os ' Procoedine
, , i: o ^ 0i 0g >
hammeran.
Minister for Foreign Affairs said to-day that
the expression used in Loan Contract is “ except
Fars and the Gulfiof Ears” and that if Moham-
merah is included in this list, it is excluded from
guarantee. He was sure control would not be
necessary, if, however, the [more («'c)] day came
(? for it) Persian Government would then decide to
what ports (it) would apply. He deprecated a
written discussion, and asked that he might consi
der your telegram only communicated verbally,
as a written note would imply a derogation of
the Shah’s authority, and a partition of Persia into
spheres of interests*
“ Belgian Director assures me positively that
as sea-going vessels go up to Mohammerak, it must
be considered as a Gulf port,”
Mr. Spring-Rice to the Marquis of Salisburt.
Te/iran, bth April 1900.
“This morning the Foreign Minister asked me Secret E., June 1900, Nos. 35-69, Proceeding No.
to call on him, and after many professions of G8,
friendship to England, informed me that as re
gards the guarantee of the Russian Loau the
phrase in the Loan Contract was: ‘ except Fars and
the ports of the Gulf of Ears/ If this expression
included Mohammerah, it was excluded from the
operation of the contract j if, on the other hand,
Mohammerah was not a port on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
it was one of the ports forming the guarantee of
the loan.
“ With regard to the question of consulting Her
Majesty’s Government before taking action which
would affect British interests in the south, His
Excellency said that u not only in Mohammerah,
but in every part of Persia where British interests
were concerned, the Persian Government, before
taking any steps of importance, would consult the
British Government, but Persia could not give a
definite agreement with regard to a special point
of her territory, as such an agreement might appear
to others like a consent to partition.”
“ I said I would inform Your Lordship of this
reply. He asked me if I would consent to take
back the written communication which I had
made. I said I would agree that what had passed
sh/«ld be regarded as a vivi voce communication.
But it might be as well to place it on record
th*.t we do not regard Moharamerah as being one
of the ports which can be or has been made subject
to the eventual control of a foreign power, especial
ly as Count Mouravieff and the Sadr Azam have
given assurances that the exception in the Loan
Contract was made in deference to our wishes.”
It Tvill thus be seen that the Persian
Minister for Foreign Affairs deprecated a