Page 72 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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he would do more to please the British Govern­
ment, and might effectively block foreign
schemes of irrigation within the limits of his
jurisdiction.
This proposal, though at first sight inviting,
would prove difficult, if not impossible, in execu­
tion, on account of the admissions as to Persian
sovereignty made by His Majesty's Government
in the course of the negotiations respecting the
Turco-Persian frontier.
In 1002 Sheikh Khazal, who for upwards of
sixty years had farmed the Customs of Moliam-
merah, entered, with some reluctance, into an
Arrangement with the Persian Government to
place the administration of the customs under Foroigu Office
the Belgian Customs officials. At the same time,
he pressed His Majesty’s Government for an 1905.
assurance of support in the event of the Persian
Government breaking their engagements towards
him. While expressing himself able to deal
with the Persians, ho feared an attempt to coerce
him might bo made by some other Power, either
acting alone or in co-operation with the Shah’s
Government. His Majesty’s Government under­
took to protect Mohammerah against naval
attack by a foreign Power under any pretext,
and also, so long os the Sheikh remained
faithful to the Shah and followed British
advice, to continue to give him good offices and
support.
At a meeting held on the 22nd March, J905,
the Imperial Defence Committee decided:—
“That it is important to secure the good offices of
the Sheikh of Mohammerah, and the possibility of sup­
porting him iu certain cases ugaiust the Shah should
not be excluded; but we must be the judgos of the
merits of any dispute which may arise.”
In December 1907, liis Majesty’s Chargd Mr. Marling,
d’Affaires at Tehran reported that Messrs. *J°- lft> . .
1 Commercial,
Wonckhaus, the German firm, liad leased a plot December 21,
1907.
of land on the river bank at Mohammerah for a
riod of eight years.
(h.) Persia.
Most of the authoritalive statements on the
protection of our interests in Southern Persia
and the Gulf have been rendered largely irrelevant
by the conclusion of tho Anglo-11 ussian Conven­
tion ; while another factor, of perhaps correspond­
ing import, is the rise of German influence at
Tehran—too recent to admit any definition of its
ultimate effect.