‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎518v] (86/112)

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charged to make the request that before the new
tariff is irrevocably settled, the Persian Govern
ment will, having regard to the commercial
interests and friendly relations referred to above,
Communicate it (of course, confidentially) to the
British Government, so as to enable the latter to
obtain modifications, while there is still time, of
any proposed changes which may be injurious to
British interests. I am also in this connection
again to remind Your Highness of the special t
interests, both commercial and political, of Great
Britain in the ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and
Southern Persia generally, as well as in th«
province of Seistan, in which, from their
respective proximity to the Indian Ocean and to
British India, our trade is predominant, and indeed
almost exclusive, and to request an undertaking
that in those portions of Persia advantages should
be conceded to His Majesty’s Government not less
than those which have been, or may hereafter be,
accorded to any other foreign power or its subjects
in other portions of His Majesty the Shah’s
dominions. This is, I think, Your Highness
will admit, a very moderate and reasonable re
quest.”
With reference to the above demands,
the Atabeg-i-Azam read out to Sir A.
Hardinge a note which he had written
down by the Shah’s orders:—
u [a) Tariff .—The Persian Government could
not undertake to submit the new Russian-Persian
Convention to us before it was settled with the
Russians, but would communicate a copy of it as
soon as it was. The question of negotiation with
us was thus evaded, but in reply to an inquiry as
to whether, if we were dissatisfied with the new
tariff, he would be willing to negotiate a fresh
one as between the British and Persian Govern
ments, he replied that he was prepared to consider
this proposal. He believed, however, that the
new tariff would prove highly satisfactory to us,
as our commercial interests had been carefully
considered by the Persian negotiators in its fram
ing.
“ (£) Our special interests in the south.—
Persian Government did not quite understand
the meaning of our proposal, but was prepared,
both in the north and south, to give to us, as it
always had done in the past, every right and ad
vantage accorded to any other foreign power.”
(See despatch No. 184 from Sir A.
Hardinge to the Marquis of Lansdowne, Ko Se ^ Maroh 1002 ’ Nog 377 ' 521 ’ Prooecdin s
dated Tehran, 29th November 1901.)
A formal reply was given the British
Minister on 6 th December 1901 in the
following terms*
,l With regard to the tariff, the Persian Govern
ment, in view of its commercial and financial
interests, had deemed it necessary to change its
tariff, and on account of the priority of the Tur-
comanchai Treaty, the negotiation in connection
with this matter was to be carried out first with
Russia. As soon as the new tariff is complete, a
copy of it will be communicated to you.
<( (2) You had stated that the Persian Govern
ment must, in Southern Persia and especially in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , give to that of Great Britain
advantages which have been given to other