Page 193 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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CHAPTER III.

Anglo-Persian War of 1856-57.

The British Expedition into the Persian Gulf, 1856-57.

XXII.—Causes of the Anglo-Persian War, 1856-57.
186. In the Prdcis on Persian Gulf Affairs (1800-1853) we dealt with our
relations with the Persian Shahs of Bajaur dynasty; Fath Ali Shah (1798-1834)
and his grandson Mahomed Shah (1834-1848). During the first years of
Fath Ali Shah’s reign we flattered the vanity of the Persian monarch by
magnificicnt embassies and costly presents, with a view to keep Persia under our
influence and to prevent its falling under the influence of the French. When the
French scare passed away, Persia almost entirely disappeared from the British
Imperial diplomacy, and the diplomatic relationship with that country was
relegated to the control of the Government of India, the result of which was
that Russia got gradually an upperhand in the Councils of Persia, which it still
retains. On the death of Fath Ali Shah in 1834 and the accession of his grand­
son Mahomed Shah, the Home Government resumed the control of our diploma­
tic relations with Persia, but to find that the British ministers had a difficult
game to play with a Prince having ambitious projects for conquests especially in
the east, much under Russian influence and actuated by a strong anti-British
spirit. We have seen how Mahomed Shah’s ambition displayed itself in his
invasion of Afghanistan and siege of Herat held by Prince Kamranand his power­
ful minister, Yar Mahomed. The siege of Herat was raised on the Biitish occu­
pation of the Karrak island, and the Anglo-Persian difficulties having been
amicably settled, the British force was withdrawn from Karrak in March 1842.
187. Mahomed Shah died in 1848 and was succeded by his son Nasir-ud-din,
who had inherited his ambitious dream of conquering Afghanistan. Yar Mahomed
had killed his chief Karman and made himself the lord of the Herat kingdom,
maintaining his position by acknowledging himself a vassal of the Persian king.
On his death in 1851, his son, Seyytd Mahomed Khan, succeeded him. His
power was threatened by Dost Mahomed. Amir of Kabul, and his brother
Kohandil, chief of Kandahar, while the Herat Chieftains made his position
insecure at home by constant opposition and intrigue. The Persian court saw
now its opportunity, and readily availed itself of beyyid Mahomed’s appeal for
help, to send an expedition under the command of Murad Mirza, Governor of
Khorasan, nominally to repel an advance of the chief of Kandahar, but in the
course of the operations, Herat was occupied by Persian troops. Upon this Colonel
Slieil remonstrated with such powerful eflect that the Persian Government thought
Aiichison's Treaties, Volume x, Pc.sia, No. it fit to enter into an engagement with the
Xvni- British Government (25th January 1853)
not to send troops into Herat territory unless it should be attacked by a foreign
force and even in such a case not to occupy the fort.of Herat and not to interfere
in Herat affairs more than had been done during the lifetime of Yar Mahomed.

British Envoys to the Court of Persia uf> to the year l^5“-
Sir Jolin Malcolm, |Soo (I.ord Wellesley to Foth Ali Shah;.
Sir .Harford Jones, 1809 (Geor>e III to ditto )
Sir John Malcolm, i8to (Lord Minto to ditto.)
Sir Gore Ouslcy, i8i I
Mr Morier and Mr. Ell:s, 1614.
Sir Henry Willock, 181S.
Sir |o> n Macdonald, 1826
Sir John Campbell, 1I30,
Sir Henry Ellis, 1835.
Sir John McNeill, 1836.
Sir (ohn Sheil, 1P42.
Colonel Farrant (acting), 1847.
Sir John Sheil, 184Q.
Mr. Tayl.ir Thomson (acting), 1853.
Hon'b.e A. S. Murray, 1855.
Mr. Stevens, i8?s (as Consul until N 1836).
Hun'ole A. S. Murray, 18^7.