Page 101 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

85
Mncorlty which has for ao long existed botwoon the two powers may be still further strengthen'
ed, and that the friendly feoliugs betwcon tho authorities o£ both powers may ns always tond to
an inorcasod amity/'
278. On tlio 10th Dccombor 1903, Sir A. Uardingo telegraphed to tho
Secret e„ February 1904, No*. 24-32, ProcccJing Foreign Offioo and t.o the Viceroy that tho
No-24- Mohammerah question was again likely to
bocomo acute. The Sheikh complained that the Persian Government was en­
deavouring to evade tho agreement made in 1902, and, in contravention of it,
was attempting to impose duties on him and to introduce additional Belgian
Customs officials and generally to undermine his authority. Ho wanted to know
doGnitoly if wo would support him in resisting these encroachments, if noccssary,
by forbidding the Persian Government to employ forco against him should he
on his part repudiate the arrangement unless tho Persians kept to it. Sir A.
Hardingo was personally in favour of our doing so, and thought that tho un­
satisfactory answer given by tho Persian Government to tho question as to the
inclusion of Mohammerah in the Russian loan security would justify our being
rather stiff in any matter relating to that port. Wo ought not to lose the
opportunity of recovoring our complete influenoe over the Sheikh. Tho Rus­
sian Government were bidding for him and wore sending him a high Russian
decoration. Sir A. Hardingo advised telling him that wo would support him
in insisting on the execution of his agreement with tho Persian Government
regarding customs and in forcibly resisting, if necessary, any attempt which
the Persians might make (though they wore not likely to try it) to coerce
him.
279. The Viceroy was quite in accord with the British Minister’s proposal
about the Sheikh of Mohammerah, provided it could be shown that the Persians
were proposing to depart from their recent agreement with him ; and after
discussing the matter with Sir A. Hardingo during the Persian Gulf tour, His
Excellency on 21st December 1903 tele­
Ibid, Proceeding No. 27.
graphed to the Secretary of State that
in his opinion it would be wise to support the Sheikh, if the Persians proposed
to depart from their agreement with him. It seemed to the Viceroy unfortunate
that tho Belgians were ever let into Mohammerah, and it would certainly be
desirable to recover lost ground.
280 On 23rd Dccombcr 1903, the Secretary of State telegraphed to the
Viceroy the following summary of a telegram sent to Sir A. Hardinge on 11th
December :—
“ His Majesty’s Government assume that the Persian Government are really attempting
„ „ to evade engagements, in that oase you are
Ko 29?‘ ' Feb,‘1“rJ ’ 21 ' oc°° lnB authorised to inform tho Sheikh that His llajea-
ty's Government consider him justified in resisting
attempt of tho Persian Government to deprivo him of rights under the agreement of 1902,
tho necessity of respecting which you should strongly impress on the Persian Government.
The Sheikh should be reminded of the assurances given by His Majesty’s Government in
December 19u2. These contemplated possibilities or a naval attack by a Foreign Power,
which was a danger then apprehonded by the Sheikh, who expressed himself confident of his
own ability to resist Persian encroachments. The Sheikh may rest assured that we shall
afford him our good offices and support, so loDg as he fulfils his obligations under the agree­
ment.”
281. In accordance with those instructions Sir A. Hardinge addressed the
following letter to the Sheikh :—
Baghdad;
24th December 1903,
(Confidential.)
Your Excellency,
I have received a telegram in reply to the one whioh I sent to His Majesty’s Seorotary of
Hid. Sub-i'nclo.uro, Enclosure, Proceed',„s No. 32. Stat? Foreign Affair, from Mohammerah after
° my first interviow with Your Excellency.