"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٤‎٥‎٤] (٦٥٤/٤٧١)

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hyde hall.
me, canning to the duke of wellington.
roreign-Office, Nov. 22, 1826.
M y dear D uke of W ellington ,—I am much obliged to
you for the trouble you have been so good as to take in looking
through the Persian papers, and in giving me your opinion upon
them. Mine agrees with you in every point but one; on which,
however, I am not very confident in my difference of opinion. It
is this:
Does not the article which defines the casus fcederus to be
aggression against Persia limit the effect of the whole Treaty, and
the aim of the sixth article, which promises our mediation?
Are we hound even to mediate in a case in which Persia was
the aggressor?
I do not know that the decision of this question either way
would affect the expediency of mediating, but it would change the
nature of the obligation, and leave us more masters of our mode
and time.
The whole Treaty is a most unlucky effort of negotiation; and
to add to the difficulties of it, it has never been laid before Parlia
ment, as 1 find upon inquiry.
I shall be very glad of an opportunity of talking with you upon
this matter as soon as the first "pressure of Parliament is over.
I am, &c.,
G eo . C anning,
To the Duke's letter, containing these enclosures, Mal
colm sent back the following reply:
sir john malcolm to the duke of wellington,
Hyde Hall, Dec. 12.
M y dear D uke ,—I return the enclosures, with many thanks
for the confidential communication. You certainly are right.
There is a positive claim in faith for mediation, I most cordially
concur in your opinion as to the interest we have in keeping
Persia in a state of independence and respectability; and the
interest^ of Russia is the same, though I much doubt that Court
continuing to view this subject in the light we do.
Mr. Canning appears to me, from all I have heard or seen of