‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎525v] (100/112)

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following summary of a telegram sent to
Sir A. Hardinge on 11th December : —
ft His Majesty’s Government assume that the Secret E., February 1901, Nos. 24*32, Proceeding
Persian Government are really attempting to No* 29 *
evade engagements. In that case you are author
ised to inform the Sheikh that His Majesty’s
Government consider him justified in resisting
attempt of the Persian Government to deprive
him-of rights under the agreement of 1902, the
necessity of respecting which you should strongly
impress on the Persian Government. The Sheikh
should be reminded of the assurances given by his
Majesty’s Government in December 1902. These
contemplated possibilities of a naval attack by a
Foreign Power, which was a danger then appre
hended by the Sheikh, who expressed himself con
fident of his own ability to resist Persian encroach
ments. The Sheikh may rest assured that we shall
afford him our good offices and support, so long
as he fulfils his obligations under the agreement.'”
In accordance with these instructions
Sir A. Hardinge addressed the following
letter to the Sheikh :—
Baghdad,
2Ath December 1903.
(Confidential.)
“ Your Excellency,
I have received a telegram in reply to the one
which I sent to His Majesty’s Secretary of State Ibid, Sub-enclosure, Enclosure, Proceeding No. 32.
for Foreign Affairs from Mohammerah after my
first interview with Your Excellency.
Lord Lansdowne says that if, as he presumes
is the case from my account of Your Excellency’s
statement to me, the Persian Government is really
attempting to repudiate the arrangement made
with you last year, I am authorised to say that
you are in his opinion justified in opposing such
attempt. He instructs me to remind you of the
message which he sent you last year and to add
that you may rest assured of the support of the
British Government so long as you on your side
observe the conditions of the arrangement made
between the Persian Government and yourself.
He has authorised me to point out to that
Government the necessity for respecting the con
ditions of the arrangement on their side, but I do
not propose to do so until I hear further from you,
as I think it will be better in the interests of good
relations between the Persian authorities and your
self that our intervention should not be invoked
until all other means of adjusting matters between
them and you have been exhausted. Meanwhile,
I should be obliged if you would send me to
Tehran, through His Majesty’s Resident at
Bushire, a copy of the note from M. Naus,
promising not to take duty on your personal im
ports and any further information on this
question.”