Page 270 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

240 Part III.

308. When Colonol Murdoch Smith, Diroctor-in-Cliicf, Indo-European
Telogrnph, happoned to visit Eno, about a
Eitcrnal A., September 1887, Not. 215-228.
year later, he found a large quantity of
bricks and other building materials collected and the working actively carried on.
Ho submitted to Mr. Nicolson, His Majesty’s Charge d’Alfa ires at Teheran, two
sketches of the Eao village, showing the sites of the fort and telegraph station*
The fort promised to bo a powerful one and when completed would command
the Sbat-el-Arab. Tho only other channel that formerly was open to navigation
to Mohammerah was found by Colonel Smith from careful enquiries to ho
quite impracticable for oven the smallest ocean-going vessels.
309. In tho circumstances Lord Salisbury after consulting Mr. Nicolson
decided that tho matter should bo referred
Ibid, No. 229.
to Constantinople (telegram to Mr.
Nicolson, dated 19th July 1S87).
310. Tho British Ambassador was then informed by Lord Salisbury that Her
Majesty’s Government would support any
Eiltrnal A., Kovombcr 183G, No*. 118-126.
representations which the Shah’s Govern-
mentmight make to tho Porte in regard to tho fortifications at Eao. Sir W.
White conferred with the Persian Ambassador on the subject. The latter had
an interview with tho Sultan, whoso personal friend he was, and made some
preliminary representations in tho matter. Soon after, however, the Persian
Ambassador left Constantinople on leave and no further move could bo expected
until his return.
31i. In August 1887 Sir A. Sanderson made a representation to Said Pasha
thcVazir, but the latter questioned the right
Ei term! A., November 1887, No*. 188-193.
of tho British and Persian Governments
to dispute tho Porte’s right to build the fortifications in its own territory, and as
regards the Treaty of Erzeroum, on which their objection was based, lie said he
would look it up with the other documents that might exist at the Porte. The
Marquis of Salisbury then in his despatch No. 222, dated 7th September 1887,
narrated tho circumstances under which the engagements were entered into by
Persia and Turkey to abstain from building fortifications on oither bank of the
Sbat-el-Arab, and added :
“It follows from the above facts, that the Turkish and Persian Governments stand mu­
tually pledged to one another to abstain from fortifyingon either sido the banks of the Shat-
el-Arab, and that Great Britain anil Russia, who were the means of obtaining for the Porte
this engagement from the Persian Government, have a direct interest and right to watch over
its faithful observance by the contracting parly on whoso behalf they intervened at the time.
uIt is possible that the Minister for Foreign Affairs may be unaware of these facts. Or
he may perhaps argue that tho engagement being a reciprocal one, the Turkish Government
have toe option of departing from it with no other consequence than that of leaving th« other
party free to do the same. Her Majerty’s Government cannot admit, in view of the history
of the negotiations, that such a connection is valid in international law, or that tho Porte
can free itself from the engagement which it took to the British and Russian mediators as
well as to the Persiau Government without previous arrangements with them.
“ And setting the legal question aside, Her Majesty’s Government being interested in tho
integrity both of Persia and the Ottoman Empire, and having regard to the fact that British
subjects are largely interested, Both in the trade of Basrah and Mahammcrnh, would groatly
regret the construction of opposing fortifications on either bank of the liver, which must con-
stitnte a menace to itfs peaceful navigation, and under cortain circumstances become a source
of danger to the maintenance of good relations between the two countries or between either
of them and Great Britain.”
312. Under orders of the Military Department of the Government of India,
a memorandum, dated 10th April 18S8,
Eiltrnal A., June 1838, No*. 293-328.
was prepared by Colonel M. S. BeH on
the position of the Fao Port and the effect of the entrance to the ICarun being
commanded by it. The following extracts from it may be read :—
“The Bahr-ul-Mushir, ohannel leading to Mohammerah is of doubtful valuo, and requires
to be re-surveypd—seo description of it. But even if ns navigable as the main channel described,
and although it be beyond ibo range of the guns at Fao, it is tho intention of the Turks to which