"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٣‎٠] (١٧٨٢/٣٧٣)

fit
■
Joint Com
mission and
Second
Treaty
of Erzeroum,
184347.
Attempted
delimitation
of the Turko-
Persian fron
tier, 1848-52.
The Crimean
War, 1854-
66.
230
A joint Turko-Persian Commission for the settlement of all
difficulties, on which Britain and Russia as mediating powers were also
to he represented, had already been arranged when the massacre at Karbala
occurred. For a moment war after the massacre seemed imminent; but
the deputation of a British officer to Karbala^ representing the Russian as
well as his own Government, enabled the crisis to be peacefully surmounted;
and the joint Commission held sittings at Erzeroum during 184344), after
which, on account of the intractibility of the Turkish Commissioner, the
negotiations were conducted in Europe. In 181*7 the Second Treaty of
Erzeroum was signed. It settled all disputed points in principle, but it
left most matters of detail for future adjustment, and it had to be amplified
by assurances on the part of the British and Russian Ambassadors at
Constantinople before Turkey linally consented to ratify it.
An attempt was then made, by means of another joint Commission
formed in 1848, in which British and Russian representatives were again
included, to define the Turko-Persian frontier on the spot. Very little was
effected, however, the unreasonableness of the Turkish delegate being
again the principal obstacle to progress; and in 1852 the Commission
broke up, not having done much more than collect information and survey
a belt of territory within which the true frontier line was considered to lie.
The treatment of Persian subjects by the authorities in Turkish Iraq
remained, notwithstanding the provisions of the Treaty of Erzeroum,
almost as unsatisfactory as before.
Difficulties between Britain and Persia, Anglo -Persian War, and
Treaty of Peace, 1853-57*
The endeavours of Britain, in conjunction with Russia, to obtain fair
treatment of Persia by Turkey were quickly followed by a diplomatic and
military rupture between Russia and Turkey, leading to one between Russia
and England, to which yet a third between Britain and Persia succeeded.
The Crimean war, due primarily to excessive Russian demands upon
Turkey, created much excitement in the Middle East. Strong efforts were
made by Russia, before the entry of France and Britain into the fray, to
induce Persia to act with her against Turkey ; and at one time they pro
mised to be successful. Turkey on her part, inspired by hopes of becoming
master of Muhammareh, as Persia may have been by dreams of securing
Karbala and Najaf, would not perhaps have regarded a Russo -Persian coali*
tion against her with any greater dismay than a war with Russia only; ^