‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎527r] (103/112)

100
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. ”
3. In 1902 the following conversation
took place in London between the Marquis
of Lansdowne and the Grand Vizier, when
the latter gave Lord Lansdowne to under
stand that the British Government would
he afforded an opportunity of explaining
how the revised tariff would affect their
interests before it was finally settled -
The Marquis of Lansdowne to Mr. des Graz.
Foreign Office, August Id, 1902.
No. 70.
(Confidential.)
Secret E., March 1903, Nos. 261-3Z8, Proceeding “I told His Highness that the disposition of
0 ' 285 ' this country towards Persia was certainly friendly,
and that we had again and again committed our*
selves to the policy of upholding the independence
and integrity of Persia. On the other hand, there
were considerable risks of misunderstanding. We
were essentially a commercial people, and com
mercial interests were largely represented in our
Parliament. Much apprehension had been created
by the prospect of impending changes in the
Persian Customs Tariff, and I had, therefore, heard
with the greatest satisfaction of the assurances
which His Highness had been able to give to
Sir A. Hardinge on the occasion of their recent
meeting at Carlsbad. His Highness replied that
he had much pleasure* in reiterating these assur
ances. He wished us to understand that it was
absolutely necessary for Persia to increase her
revenues. The customs duties had, therefore,
to be raised, and, in his belief, the burden was one
which would fall upon the consumer rather than
the producer. I replied that this theory was by
no means accepted here, but that I would not
press the point, as we did not contend that we
had any right to complain of the Persian Govern
ment merely because it raised its tariff. All we
asked was that the duties should operate evenly
upon the countries affected, and should not in
effect discriminate in favour of our competitors.
The Grand Vizier observed that they would affect
all countries alike. I replied that this w r as not
quite the case, and I pointed out how easily it
might come to pass that a tariff imposed upon
all countries alike might in effect discriminate in
favour of one country against another. I cited the
case of cotton goods exported from this country to
Persia, which, owing to their weight, would have
to pay a much higher percentage ad valorem than
those imported by Persia from Russia. I men
tioned to His Highness the influential deputation
from Manchester which had called my attention to
this subject, and told him that, although I had
dissuaded the Manchester merchants, pending the
result of my discussion with him, from carrying
on an agitation in support of their views, the
question had attracted a good deal of attention in
the newspapers and in Parliament. I promised to
send the report published in the leading papers of
my reception of the deputation. I went on to
say that I did not desire to inflict upon His
Highness a discussion as to the details of this